Thread title is a book title.
I got back from the doctor a bit ago. He has written a book. "The High Price of Socialized Medicine"--A History of Government Meddling In American Health Care, And How A Free Market Would Solve Our Problems
After I read it I will probably update the thread to shamelessly promote it. I mean give the highlights.
He is against the high cost of health care. He practices from his home. He has gained some support from Idaho legislators to try and open an out-of-pocket surgical center in this state. He told me he has sent letters to 33 radiologists promoting his agenda in an attempt to get some on board. There is a surgical center in Oklahoma modeled like what he is seeking for Idaho.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjr0O3H0sXQAhVK1WMKHbFdDT0QFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsurgerycenterok.com%2F&usg=AFQjCNHdYdvCk2cD2DPv0K8QPZEJKIH_Ig&sig2=hPoihgg0fTSfg_vqHBSfAwHe also told me he has researched (for example) the cost of MRI's. He contacted a place in Guadalajara that uses one of the top medical imaging units. They charge $376. Here, locally, the exact same thing is $2500.
I told him that P-E Trump needs a copy. He said he sent him one.
This is something I can get behind. He also told me there are parts of his book that will make people on the dole mad. His words.
I have no health insurance. I can't afford it. The whole situation makes me upset.
I am currently undergoing treatment (as I know many of you are aware). The drug manufacturer is providing the Sovaldi I need free of charge. The other is Ribivirin and that cost is $105 for 28 days. My treatment is scheduled for 84 days. Today is number 56. It seems to be working and indications from bi-weekly blood tests seem to show that.
My point in telling you this is that even though Gilead is providing me a life-saving drug the retail price of this medication, Sovaldi, is $1,000 per pill. One pill per day for 84 days. $84,000 for the complete treatment. An absolutely ridiculous price whether you have insurance, money, or not. This drug was developed by a company that used taxpayer grant money. It was then acquired by Gilead. Their worldwide profits for 2015 were in the $32 billion range.
There are arguments that reducing the price of groundbreaking medications would stifle research. Maybe not in this case.
Drawing from 20,000 pages of internal company documents, dozens of interviews with health care experts, and a trove of data from Medicaid programs in 50 states and the District of Columbia, the investigation found that the company pursued a marketing strategy and final wholesale price of Sovaldi – $1,000 per pill, or $84,000 for a single course of treatment – that it believed would maximize revenue. Building on that price, Harvoni was later introduced at $94,500. Fostering broad, affordable access was not a key consideration in the process of setting the wholesale prices.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiIhrShzcXQAhVI6GMKHQjuAnkQFggiMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.finance.senate.gov%2Franking-members-news%2Fwyden-grassley-sovaldi-investigation-finds-revenue-driven-pricing-strategy-behind-84-000-hepatitis-drug%3Futm_source%3Dmsn&usg=AFQjCNEJK-YWsIeDZz1QJLpUlmdDOkCJbw&sig2=6fTyIk_02TVR-nbx_SF6BQ
My doctor's basic philosophy is to give people like me decent health care at an affordable price.
From the book introduction:
"This book is not so much a dissection of Obamacare as it is an examination of the historical forces that have led us to this situation over many decades. It does discuss Obamacare, but that is actually a small part of the book. I will not be recommending a restructuring of government programs controlling healthcare. I will not be advocationg some sort of "Obamacare-lite" alternative. I suggest removing the root causes of our problems, by reinstituting freedom in this country."
"By the time I had finished my training, I had evolved from a big-government socialist into a pro-Constitution supporter of freedom".
I am going to give this doctor's agenda some attention. Since I was there for an appointment I didn't get a chance to go into depth and at length with him, but I plan to.
This is a topic not merely of my local interest. This man is dedicated in this attempt to bring this into the national dialogue. To the national stage. With rising premiums, health insurance providers leaving areas, a grassroots approach led by medical professionals is something many of us could get behind.
Dr. Brook is a funny guy. I told him tonite certain foods, like chili dogs, made my liver hurt. He told me he used to get a stabbing pain in the eye everytime he ate a milkshake. Until he started removing the spoon first. Unbeatable advice at an unbeatable price.
