Choosing Wisely
A free public service for a better community
A Good Day To Advocate for Better Healthcare
If there are subjects you’d like to see or improvements made, please let me know using the comment button below. Videos of these newsletters appear on Youtube on this channel. Let me know what you think. One of the subjects in work is the over medicating/over testing/ unnecessary procedures that are performed for little or no value. It can increase costs as well as doing damage to patients.
Negotiating Drug Prices - Update from Europe
European antitrust regulators want you to know that fighting crime in the pharmaceutical industry pays. Between 2018 and 2022, the European Commission and antitrust regulators in numerous European countries adopted 26 decisions concerning anti-competitive practices by drug companies by imposing more than $845 million in fines or accepting legally binding commitments by manufacturers to alter their corporate behaviors. All totaled, there were 70 investigations, and 30 remain ongoing, according to a new report. (reference)
Pretty much all of the European Union countries have some form of Universal Healthcare - all different because each country’s culture is unique. They all negotiate lower drug prices. Our elected officials just allow us to be taken to the cleaners (IMHO).
Choosing Wisely
I mentioned that I was researching how facilities may perform low value or unnecessary tests/procedures on patients. I keep running into Choosing Wisely. It was an investigation started in 2013 by the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation. Their goal of the campaign is to promote conversations between clinicians and patients by helping patients choose care that is: supported by evidence, not duplicative of other tests or procedures already received, free from harm and really necessary.
They have identified between 600 and 700 tests/procedures that are low value. Of course, part of their mission is to have doctors and patients discuss what is necessary for accurate diagnosis. The also ask leading medical specialty societies and other organizations to identify tests or procedures commonly used in their field whose necessity should be questioned and discussed with patients.
I ran into this a couple of weeks ago with a urologist. He explained that certain tests were not useful for someone my age. When I examined Choosing Wisely I could see why. There was the prospect of significant harm and a benefit to no more than one out of a thousand patients.
Here are 5 groups of questions they recommend for a patient /doctor discussion:
Do I really need this test or procedure?
Medical tests help you and your doctor or other health provider decide how to treat a problem. And medical procedures help to actually treat it.
What are the risks? Will there be side effects? What are the chances of getting results that aren’t accurate? Could that lead to more testing or another procedure?
Are there simpler, safer options?
Sometimes all you need to do is make lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier food or exercising more.
What happens if I don’t do anything? Ask if your condition might get worse — or better — if you don’t have the test or procedure right away.
How much does it cost? Ask if there are less-expensive tests, treatments or procedures, what will your insurance pay for it?
Here is a link to Choosing Wisely recommendations on the American Academy of Family Physicians website.
Here is a link to the Choosing Wisely site. Let’s be better consumers.
RESOURCES
Healthcare Advocacy (Us)
Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare
Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Find My Elected Officials
Contact the White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Contact State and Federal Representatives
By phone: (202) 224-3121
By email: democracy.io
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Program
One Payer States
Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision
Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water RESISTBOT write up
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