March 21, 2010
Institute For Medical Wellness Healthy Living Report
Defining the Healthcare Reform Debate:
The debate has raged for over a year now. The vote will be taken today. As this newsletter was written and sent prior to the vote, I do not yet know the outcome, yet I fear that this reform bill will pass. While our healthcare system has many faults, the reforms that may become law are more like the San Andreas fault.
Here are a few words, that I feel aptly describes the healthcare reform debate, taken from a few different online dictionaries.
1) Oligarchy: An oligarchy (Greek ?λιγαρχ?α, Oligarkhía) (oligocracy) is a form of government in which power effectively rests with a small elite segment of society distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, military might, or religious hegemony.
Opinion only: Public opinion has been against this reform bill. Yet the Congress may yet make it law. Is our present day Congress an oligarchy?
2) Collusion is an agreement, usually secretive, which occurs between two or more persons to limit open competition by deceiving, misleading, or defrauding others of their legal rights, or to obtain an objective forbidden by law typically by defrauding or gaining an unfair advantage. It is an agreement among firms to divide the market, set prices, or limit production. It can involve "wage fixing, kickbacks, or misrepresenting the independence of the relationship between the colluding parties. As another example, collusion may involve cooperation between competing sellers, in the form of an agreement, express or tacit, limiting competition, or a merger or other means to raise the market price above the competitive level.
Opinion only: At first, I thought this was about health insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies fixing prices to benefit the profits of both. But after watching healthcare reform pushed through our Congress, it appears that our politicians are even better at collusion, and have colluded with just about every special interest and industry around, leaving individuals without representation.
How many private backroom political deals were struck to buy get votes?
This bill was originally written in large part by politicians in collusion with health insurers. So the major benefits are political, and for the profits of the large insurance companies. All the demonizing of insurance companies was just a tactic to try to swing public opinion in favor of reform. It did not work. We all have issues when we fight an insurer to cover a treatment. Our biggest threat is legal, supposedly with the power of the government at our sides. With the collusion between the insurers and the government, just whose side will our government be on during our next battle with the insurers?
Individuals may soon be mandated to purchase insurance, and their choices of policies to purchase will be regulated and limited by the government. What the government fails to understand is that it is the government regulations and mandates that increases the costs of healthcare. They are just doubling down on bad policy!!
I will stop here, but not because I have run out of opinions.
But first, here is a link on healthcare reform from one of my volunteer crackerjack patients researchers.
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After the above reform discussion, I feel the need to lighten it up a little, and no better way then some HMO humor.
HMO Jokes Segment
•The problem is that 99.99% of the HMO's make a bad name for the rest of them.
•Title for the meeting held in Michigan was an excellent example for oxymoron: "Managed care ethics."
•Q: What is the difference between an HMO and a car battery? A: The battery has a positive side.
•Q: What's the difference between an HMO doc and a seagull? A seagull can still make a significant deposit on a Mercedes.
Disclaimer: I have never owned a Mercedes, and my car is now 12 years old!!!
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Blogroll
For those of you who are not internet savvy, a blogroll is not a type of sushi. But they are part of the many sources I research for new, old or changing information concerning your health.
I have many blogs that I follow, some of which are listed below:
http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.com/ Diabetes Update
http://www.fathead-movie.com/ Fat Head- You've been fed a load of bologna
http://nephropal.blogspot.com/ Health and Medicine from an Evolutionary Standpoint
http://www.paleonu.com/ paleolithic nutrition - duplicating the evolutionary metabolic milieu
http://donmatesz.blogspot.com/ explores food, fitness, pharmacy, freedom, and philosophy using an evolutionary paradigm. Primal Wisdom refers to the accumulated wisdom of our pre-agricultural ancestors as well as the innate wisdom built into the modern human organism through millions of years of evolution.
http://robbwolf.com/ Intermittent Fasting, Fitness, & Paleolithic Nutrition
http://www.blog.sethroberts.net/ Self-Experimentation, Scientific Method, the Shangri-La Diet, etc.
http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/ The Blog of Michael R.Eades, M.D., A critical look at nutritional science and anything else that strikes my fancy
http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/ Measure, track and control coronary atherosclerotic plaque
http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com A blog about health, food, wholesome living and whatever else captures my interest.
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Conclusion:
So if healthcare reform passes and is signed into law, what do I see happening?
I really do not like making predictions, but since you asked:
I will limit my predictions to the Institute For Medical Wellness. We will continue to offer patient-centered, non-rushed medical care focusing on prevention of illness regardless of any reform bill, because it is what is demanded from my patient's and what is best for your health.
So if and when millions of individuals are forced to purchase insurance, and find their way into physicians offices, my question becomes, are there enough physicians? The answer is NO! So these newly insured will find themselves waiting in long lines at doctors offices or emergency rooms. But the era of the 8 minute doctor visit will be over. It will be replaced with a 5 minute visit, as doctors will need to see many more patients each day. Please tell me how can that be accomplished while maintaining high quality care?
The Institute For Medical Wellness will continue as is.
•Our routine office visit will remain at 20 minutes.
•Yearly wellness exams will continue at 45-60 minutes.
•Same day appointments and minimal if any waiting room time will continue.
•Wellness Plans that are less expensive than your cell phone bill or gym membership!
When we can no longer continue meeting the above conditions, we will stop accepting new patients. We value every individual in our practice, I hope as much as each individual values themselves!
So you are all still free to decide, regardless of healthcare reform, where to obtain your healthcare. You can remain in the present healthcare system, where doctor visits last 5-8 minutes, and it can take a week for a sick visit. Or you can join with The Institute for Medical Wellness for healthcare delivery the way it should be, where the focus is always on you!!
To Good Health!
Steven Horvitz, D.O,
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.drhorvitz.com
Showing posts with label healthcare reform. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthcare reform. Show all posts
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Heart Attacks and Healthcare reform- What truly causes them and can we prevent either??
February 28, 2010
Institute For Medical Wellness Healthy Living Report
Heart Attacks and Healthcare reform- What truly causes them and can we prevent either??
This will be the first in a series about cardiovascular disease testing.
Today will focus on total cholesterol measurements and what it really means.
When I first meet a patient, I generally spend a good deal of time reviewing their medical history. This generally accounts for about 20 minutes of our first visit. And what makes the Institute For Medical Wellness distinct from other offices, is that it is I, Dr. Horvitz, that takes the history. I do not rely on paperwork, assistants, or prior records. It is extremely important to get to know each patient, and the initial medical history is the most important step in that process.
What I always find amusing about the initial history, is when I question about previous testing.
Can you guess what testing patient's almost always bring up first?
It is none other than one of my favorite topics, cholesterol!!!
I have had patient's come in to my office scared because they were told their cholesterol was over 200. I have had patient's smile proudly and announce that their cholesterol levels were under 200. I always ask why that is important, and the routine response is, "Well isn't cholesterol bad for me, and shouldn't I try to lower it?"
Many still believe that they need to lower their Total Cholesterol below 200 to reduce their risks of heart attacks, strokes, and other vascular disease. Now, what would you say if I told you that:
Of all people who suffer heart attacks, 50%, that means half, have Total Cholesterol levels above 200 !!!
Sounds pretty ominous ????
OK, then let me take it one step further, by asking what about the other 50% who suffer heart attacks?
Of all people who suffer heart attacks, 50%, that means half, have Total Cholesterol levels below 200 !!!
So how accurate is a Total Cholesterol level in calculating your risk for a heart attack?
It is as accurate as guessing heads or tails when flipping a coin !!!!
I will continue with cardiovascular disease testing in a future newsletter. I hope to show what truly predicts your future risk and what does not!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Healthcare Reform Update:
The healthcare summit is over. For those of you who watched it, What did you think?
I'll tell you what I think, but first go back to my previous newsletter with my prediction about the summit. As of now, most of my predictions have come true. Everyone had their talking points, with the president, as usual, speaking the most. But he has that right, because, if I can quote him, "I am the President".
Unfortunately, the two political spectrums are diametrically and philosophically opposed to each other in respect to healthcare.
The democrats want government to exert more power and control over the system.
The republicans want the government to set up rules that would allow individuals and businesses greater leverage when purchasing health insurance and healthcare.
The democrats want a system where politicians and bureaucrats will have the ultimate decision making authority about what type of health insurance is available to you, which leads in the future to what type of treatments will be available.
The republicans want a system left open to the free market, with less political mandates from Washington and state governments. This would allow insurance companies to develop insurance plans that better meet the needs of its subscribers, and lowering the costs.
There is more but I prefer to sum it up this way.
The president wants a plan with heavy, heavy control of your healthcare choices residing in Washington. The president believes that government knows better what you need, and will make better choices for you, than if you could make them yourself. The president wants a healthcare plan where you need to rely on Washington and all of its politics.
The republicans do not want a big reform plan. They want small incremental changes that would allow the power of healthcare decision making to remain with individuals. They want reforms that promote true competition for your healthcare dollar, thereby lowering your costs and improving innovations in treatment. The republicans want a healthcare plan where you rely on yourself and your community, not on Washington politics!
Now to be fair, everything does not always work out exactly as feared or planned.
But it is "intentions", that affect our behavior and beliefs.
It is my view that the president's intentions are to set the stage for a future full government takeover of the healthcare system. It may not occur during his presidency, but he wants to start pushing the car without brakes down the hill towards a full government system. The problem I have, is that once the car starts moving downhill, it becomes very, very hard to stop!
If you did not watch the summit, or the follow-up media highlights, I urge you to watch the following video. Dr. Tom Coburn, a republican senator and physician, gave a republican address concerning the aftermath of the summit. It can be viewed here.
As a disclaimer. I do not like any politician or political group that puts themselves or their party ahead of the constituents they are meant to represent. That is why I am a registered as neither a republican or a democrat, but as an independent.
My views on healthcare has not changed. Please read a newsletter from two years ago, prior to today's healthcare debate.
If you are against the present reforms, click here to sign one of the many petitions seeking a total fresh restart of the reform debate.
No matter what your views on healthcare reform, speak up and contact your political representatives!!
To Good Health!
Steven Horvitz, D.O,
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.drhorvitz.com
To follow The Institute For Medical Wellness on Twitter.
If this newsletter was forwarded to you, and you would like to receive future editions in your email box, please sign up here.
Institute For Medical Wellness Healthy Living Report
Heart Attacks and Healthcare reform- What truly causes them and can we prevent either??
This will be the first in a series about cardiovascular disease testing.
Today will focus on total cholesterol measurements and what it really means.
When I first meet a patient, I generally spend a good deal of time reviewing their medical history. This generally accounts for about 20 minutes of our first visit. And what makes the Institute For Medical Wellness distinct from other offices, is that it is I, Dr. Horvitz, that takes the history. I do not rely on paperwork, assistants, or prior records. It is extremely important to get to know each patient, and the initial medical history is the most important step in that process.
What I always find amusing about the initial history, is when I question about previous testing.
Can you guess what testing patient's almost always bring up first?
It is none other than one of my favorite topics, cholesterol!!!
I have had patient's come in to my office scared because they were told their cholesterol was over 200. I have had patient's smile proudly and announce that their cholesterol levels were under 200. I always ask why that is important, and the routine response is, "Well isn't cholesterol bad for me, and shouldn't I try to lower it?"
Many still believe that they need to lower their Total Cholesterol below 200 to reduce their risks of heart attacks, strokes, and other vascular disease. Now, what would you say if I told you that:
Of all people who suffer heart attacks, 50%, that means half, have Total Cholesterol levels above 200 !!!
Sounds pretty ominous ????
OK, then let me take it one step further, by asking what about the other 50% who suffer heart attacks?
Of all people who suffer heart attacks, 50%, that means half, have Total Cholesterol levels below 200 !!!
So how accurate is a Total Cholesterol level in calculating your risk for a heart attack?
It is as accurate as guessing heads or tails when flipping a coin !!!!
I will continue with cardiovascular disease testing in a future newsletter. I hope to show what truly predicts your future risk and what does not!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Healthcare Reform Update:
The healthcare summit is over. For those of you who watched it, What did you think?
I'll tell you what I think, but first go back to my previous newsletter with my prediction about the summit. As of now, most of my predictions have come true. Everyone had their talking points, with the president, as usual, speaking the most. But he has that right, because, if I can quote him, "I am the President".
Unfortunately, the two political spectrums are diametrically and philosophically opposed to each other in respect to healthcare.
The democrats want government to exert more power and control over the system.
The republicans want the government to set up rules that would allow individuals and businesses greater leverage when purchasing health insurance and healthcare.
The democrats want a system where politicians and bureaucrats will have the ultimate decision making authority about what type of health insurance is available to you, which leads in the future to what type of treatments will be available.
The republicans want a system left open to the free market, with less political mandates from Washington and state governments. This would allow insurance companies to develop insurance plans that better meet the needs of its subscribers, and lowering the costs.
There is more but I prefer to sum it up this way.
The president wants a plan with heavy, heavy control of your healthcare choices residing in Washington. The president believes that government knows better what you need, and will make better choices for you, than if you could make them yourself. The president wants a healthcare plan where you need to rely on Washington and all of its politics.
The republicans do not want a big reform plan. They want small incremental changes that would allow the power of healthcare decision making to remain with individuals. They want reforms that promote true competition for your healthcare dollar, thereby lowering your costs and improving innovations in treatment. The republicans want a healthcare plan where you rely on yourself and your community, not on Washington politics!
Now to be fair, everything does not always work out exactly as feared or planned.
But it is "intentions", that affect our behavior and beliefs.
It is my view that the president's intentions are to set the stage for a future full government takeover of the healthcare system. It may not occur during his presidency, but he wants to start pushing the car without brakes down the hill towards a full government system. The problem I have, is that once the car starts moving downhill, it becomes very, very hard to stop!
If you did not watch the summit, or the follow-up media highlights, I urge you to watch the following video. Dr. Tom Coburn, a republican senator and physician, gave a republican address concerning the aftermath of the summit. It can be viewed here.
As a disclaimer. I do not like any politician or political group that puts themselves or their party ahead of the constituents they are meant to represent. That is why I am a registered as neither a republican or a democrat, but as an independent.
My views on healthcare has not changed. Please read a newsletter from two years ago, prior to today's healthcare debate.
If you are against the present reforms, click here to sign one of the many petitions seeking a total fresh restart of the reform debate.
No matter what your views on healthcare reform, speak up and contact your political representatives!!
To Good Health!
Steven Horvitz, D.O,
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.drhorvitz.com
To follow The Institute For Medical Wellness on Twitter.
If this newsletter was forwarded to you, and you would like to receive future editions in your email box, please sign up here.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Healthcare Words Of The Day
February 24, 2010
Institute For Medical Wellness Healthy Living Report
First word of the day is oxymoron.
An online definition:
oxymoron
a rhetorical device or figure of speech in which contradictory or opposite words or concepts are combined for effect. — oxymoronic, adj.
Now please read the following segment below:
In a previous newsletter, I wrote about a French premier who traveled to our country for healthcare. In particular, he had heart surgery in Florida after his Canadian doctor's recommended it. As per a Canadian Press article, Mr. Williams was quoted as saying,
“My doctors in Newfoundland indicated to me that I should go out of the province to get it done,” Williams said in an interview broadcast yesterday with the NTV network. “This is my heart, it’s my health, and it’s my choice.”
So a French Premier chose, of his own volition, to come to America for healthcare, more specifically, heart surgery. There are heart surgeons in Canada. But they did not perform the less invasive type of surgery performed by some surgeons in America.
But that may not have been the only reason Mr. Williams came to America, according to the Canadian press article.
"Williams said he didn't announce his departure south of the border because he didn't want to create "a media gong show," but added that criticism would've followed him had he chose to have surgery in Canada. "I would've been criticized if I had stayed in Canada and had been perceived as jumping a line or a wait list. ... I accept that. That's public life," he said. "(But) this is not a unique phenomenon to me. This is something that happens with lots of families throughout this country, so I make no apologies for that."
OK. He could have had the surgery in Canada. But the surgeons would have cracked open his chest, instead of going in laparoscopically, a much less invasive procedure. And, if he stayed in Canada, and had the surgery, he either would have had to wait in line, and risk permanent heart damage, or use political connections to get pushed to the front of the line.
Things that make you go Hmmm....
A politician using political connections to get special favors. That could never happen in this country??? I also have a bridge in New York to sell you!!
But he chose to have treatment in our country, yet still believes the Canadian system is better??
Can you say oxymoron???
So while I truly respect our neighbors to the north, I want no part of their top-heavy government controlled healthcare system. Our system may be expensive, but that is a result of too much government, third party and political intrusions into the system, not too little. So anyone who wants to debate where to get the best and most advanced medical care in the world, get in line behind Danny Williams from Canada.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OBama's Healthcare Summit
That brings me to the second word of the day, Summit.
An online definition of summit.
sum·mit (smt)
n.
1. The highest point or part; the top.
2. The highest level or degree that can be attained.
3.
a. The highest level, as of government officials.
b. A conference or meeting of high-level leaders, usually called to shape a program of action.
v. sum·mit·ed, sum·mit·ing, sum·mits
If we actually believe that politicians meet the above definitions and that they can fix the healthcare system, then, well ......
Here is my prediction for how the healthcare summit will go.
President Obama will thank everyone for attending the first ever televised and transparent healthcare summit to attempt to solve our nations healthcare crisis. He will mention how we have the best doctors and hospitals in the world, but are trapped in a system that costs too much and leaves many without healthcare. He will then demonize special interests, especially the health insurance companies and Big Pharma. He will take a stand and review his proposal for reform, that is a compilation of the Senate and House's bills that, if you follow public opinion polls, has been widely rejected by a majority of Americans. He will talk about bending the cost curve of healthcare, and making doctors and hospitals more efficient through the use of electronic health records and a comparative effectiveness research commission. He will ask that his proposal be the framework or template that the rest of the day's summit focuses upon. He will call for an end to bickering and political games and ask that the republicans end their partisanship in the name of healthcare reform.
Boy would I love to be at this summit, and debate the president on healthcare reform. I am so, so tired of politicians screwing up the healthcare system, blaming doctors and hospitals for increasing costs, and then making it worse with more political rhetoric.
So since I will instead, be working at my office, providing healthcare, let me rebut some of the above statements.
1) There is no healthcare crisis. There is a political crisis on what to do to fix a system that previous governments also screwed up, yet they will use the word crisis as a way to have the government exert even more control.
We do not need more government control of healthcare, but less. Everyone has access to healthcare. No one can be turned away from an emergency room. The real issue is the cost of health insurance, not actual healthcare. To lower the cost of health insurance, we need to get rid of government mandates, encourage high deductible insurance policies with tax free medical savings accounts to promote some individual responsibility for one's own health, and enable more competition among insurers by allowing real competition across state lines. By freeing the insurance companies from political state mandates, the cost of insurance premiums will decrease. The states with the fewest mandates, have the lowest insurance premiums. Yet the presidents reform proposals will likely increase mandates on insurance companies, which will only lead to higher insurance premiums. That is why Massachusetts, with a state sponsored system, has one of the highest insurance premiums in the nation. The president's proposals will result in a "bending of the cost curve" in the wrong direction.
2) Big Pharma is not one of my friends, but they are also not one of my enemies. Their marketing schemes leave alot to be desired, and I call them on it all the time. But they do produce medications and treatments that prevent illness and save lives. Instead of demonizing them and calling their profits obscene, change the system to make them deal directly with individuals. At present, they do not sell their products to individuals. They sell them to insurance plans and pharmacy benefit companies. If they had to sell their products direct to you, don't you think they would have to lower their prices to stay in business? You can still have a prescription plan, if you choose. But the plan would reimburse you after you bought your medication, thereby ending the backroom wheeling and dealing that drives the costs of medications higher. The presidents plan is for more third party intrusion into your prescriptions, which will only make the costs higher in the end. Again, the president's proposals will result in a "bending of the cost curve" in the wrong direction.
3) Electronic health records (EHR) do not make doctor's more efficient, nor do they save money. Doctors spend so much wasted time documenting every little hiccup, that they lose focus on the patient. EHR's only make the matter worse as the learning curve for these systems can be pretty steep, as well as the operating costs being very high. The return on investment for most doctor practices is negative. The president's proposals will result in a "bending of the cost curve" in the wrong direction.
4) The Comparative Effectiveness Research panel was put into law at the time of the first "stimulus bill". This panel is actually a ploy to put the government in charge of deciding what treatments are worthwhile and will lead eventually to what treatments will be covered. So the newer, higher priced treatments and procedures will eventually be stymied by lack of coverage. For example, let us go back to Premier Danny Jackson. If the heart surgeon was not able to learn to perform the less invasive surgery, due to the higher initial costs during the early years of the procedure, Mr. Jackson would still be in Canada, waiting to have his chest cracked open. Mr. Jackson's choices that he was quoted above would have been limited. Is that the type of healthcare system you want??
I could go further, probably to number 212, but then this would be more like a book, then a newsletter.
So let me conclude by stating my hope, as a physician who prefers to have third party government and insurers out of my exam rooms, is for the Republican party to stand strong against the President's proposals. I also hope they are joined by Democrats to demand the summit start fresh with a totally open slate, and begin again with reforms that give freedom and choice to individuals, with a system designed to lower both insurance premiums, individual costs, and government costs. This will allow the continuation of the best healthcare the world has ever known, while truly bending the cost curve downward.
Unfortunately, I believe the Democrats in Congress, believe they know better than the American public, and will still try to shove this reform plan down our throats. If they do, they will certainly pay the price during the November 2010 elections!! So let us hope they come to their senses, and end the present reform charade.
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Wellness Network Update:
Just a reminder. Everyone enrolled in a Wellness Program can receive one therapeutic massage at half price. That is $35 for a one hour massage, and $50 for an hour and a half.
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Institute For Medical Wellness New Offers:
Our supplement of the month for February 2010 is Revitalize. Revitalize is our once daily multivitamin that contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals, along with small amounts of antioxidant, and liver detoxifying herbs. Revitalize comes in a bottle of 90 capsules, with most people taking 1-3 a day. I find that one a day is sufficient for most, and also allows the bottle to last for 3 months. Through the end of this month, Revitalize will be available for $5 off its regular price. For more information on Revitalize and the other supplements we offer, please visit here.
I have not yet decided on a supplement of the month for March.
Any ideas or suggestions???
To Good Health!
Steven Horvitz, D.O,
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.drhorvitz.com
Institute For Medical Wellness Healthy Living Report
First word of the day is oxymoron.
An online definition:
oxymoron
a rhetorical device or figure of speech in which contradictory or opposite words or concepts are combined for effect. — oxymoronic, adj.
Now please read the following segment below:
In a previous newsletter, I wrote about a French premier who traveled to our country for healthcare. In particular, he had heart surgery in Florida after his Canadian doctor's recommended it. As per a Canadian Press article, Mr. Williams was quoted as saying,
“My doctors in Newfoundland indicated to me that I should go out of the province to get it done,” Williams said in an interview broadcast yesterday with the NTV network. “This is my heart, it’s my health, and it’s my choice.”
So a French Premier chose, of his own volition, to come to America for healthcare, more specifically, heart surgery. There are heart surgeons in Canada. But they did not perform the less invasive type of surgery performed by some surgeons in America.
But that may not have been the only reason Mr. Williams came to America, according to the Canadian press article.
"Williams said he didn't announce his departure south of the border because he didn't want to create "a media gong show," but added that criticism would've followed him had he chose to have surgery in Canada. "I would've been criticized if I had stayed in Canada and had been perceived as jumping a line or a wait list. ... I accept that. That's public life," he said. "(But) this is not a unique phenomenon to me. This is something that happens with lots of families throughout this country, so I make no apologies for that."
OK. He could have had the surgery in Canada. But the surgeons would have cracked open his chest, instead of going in laparoscopically, a much less invasive procedure. And, if he stayed in Canada, and had the surgery, he either would have had to wait in line, and risk permanent heart damage, or use political connections to get pushed to the front of the line.
Things that make you go Hmmm....
A politician using political connections to get special favors. That could never happen in this country??? I also have a bridge in New York to sell you!!
But he chose to have treatment in our country, yet still believes the Canadian system is better??
Can you say oxymoron???
So while I truly respect our neighbors to the north, I want no part of their top-heavy government controlled healthcare system. Our system may be expensive, but that is a result of too much government, third party and political intrusions into the system, not too little. So anyone who wants to debate where to get the best and most advanced medical care in the world, get in line behind Danny Williams from Canada.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OBama's Healthcare Summit
That brings me to the second word of the day, Summit.
An online definition of summit.
sum·mit (smt)
n.
1. The highest point or part; the top.
2. The highest level or degree that can be attained.
3.
a. The highest level, as of government officials.
b. A conference or meeting of high-level leaders, usually called to shape a program of action.
v. sum·mit·ed, sum·mit·ing, sum·mits
If we actually believe that politicians meet the above definitions and that they can fix the healthcare system, then, well ......
Here is my prediction for how the healthcare summit will go.
President Obama will thank everyone for attending the first ever televised and transparent healthcare summit to attempt to solve our nations healthcare crisis. He will mention how we have the best doctors and hospitals in the world, but are trapped in a system that costs too much and leaves many without healthcare. He will then demonize special interests, especially the health insurance companies and Big Pharma. He will take a stand and review his proposal for reform, that is a compilation of the Senate and House's bills that, if you follow public opinion polls, has been widely rejected by a majority of Americans. He will talk about bending the cost curve of healthcare, and making doctors and hospitals more efficient through the use of electronic health records and a comparative effectiveness research commission. He will ask that his proposal be the framework or template that the rest of the day's summit focuses upon. He will call for an end to bickering and political games and ask that the republicans end their partisanship in the name of healthcare reform.
Boy would I love to be at this summit, and debate the president on healthcare reform. I am so, so tired of politicians screwing up the healthcare system, blaming doctors and hospitals for increasing costs, and then making it worse with more political rhetoric.
So since I will instead, be working at my office, providing healthcare, let me rebut some of the above statements.
1) There is no healthcare crisis. There is a political crisis on what to do to fix a system that previous governments also screwed up, yet they will use the word crisis as a way to have the government exert even more control.
We do not need more government control of healthcare, but less. Everyone has access to healthcare. No one can be turned away from an emergency room. The real issue is the cost of health insurance, not actual healthcare. To lower the cost of health insurance, we need to get rid of government mandates, encourage high deductible insurance policies with tax free medical savings accounts to promote some individual responsibility for one's own health, and enable more competition among insurers by allowing real competition across state lines. By freeing the insurance companies from political state mandates, the cost of insurance premiums will decrease. The states with the fewest mandates, have the lowest insurance premiums. Yet the presidents reform proposals will likely increase mandates on insurance companies, which will only lead to higher insurance premiums. That is why Massachusetts, with a state sponsored system, has one of the highest insurance premiums in the nation. The president's proposals will result in a "bending of the cost curve" in the wrong direction.
2) Big Pharma is not one of my friends, but they are also not one of my enemies. Their marketing schemes leave alot to be desired, and I call them on it all the time. But they do produce medications and treatments that prevent illness and save lives. Instead of demonizing them and calling their profits obscene, change the system to make them deal directly with individuals. At present, they do not sell their products to individuals. They sell them to insurance plans and pharmacy benefit companies. If they had to sell their products direct to you, don't you think they would have to lower their prices to stay in business? You can still have a prescription plan, if you choose. But the plan would reimburse you after you bought your medication, thereby ending the backroom wheeling and dealing that drives the costs of medications higher. The presidents plan is for more third party intrusion into your prescriptions, which will only make the costs higher in the end. Again, the president's proposals will result in a "bending of the cost curve" in the wrong direction.
3) Electronic health records (EHR) do not make doctor's more efficient, nor do they save money. Doctors spend so much wasted time documenting every little hiccup, that they lose focus on the patient. EHR's only make the matter worse as the learning curve for these systems can be pretty steep, as well as the operating costs being very high. The return on investment for most doctor practices is negative. The president's proposals will result in a "bending of the cost curve" in the wrong direction.
4) The Comparative Effectiveness Research panel was put into law at the time of the first "stimulus bill". This panel is actually a ploy to put the government in charge of deciding what treatments are worthwhile and will lead eventually to what treatments will be covered. So the newer, higher priced treatments and procedures will eventually be stymied by lack of coverage. For example, let us go back to Premier Danny Jackson. If the heart surgeon was not able to learn to perform the less invasive surgery, due to the higher initial costs during the early years of the procedure, Mr. Jackson would still be in Canada, waiting to have his chest cracked open. Mr. Jackson's choices that he was quoted above would have been limited. Is that the type of healthcare system you want??
I could go further, probably to number 212, but then this would be more like a book, then a newsletter.
So let me conclude by stating my hope, as a physician who prefers to have third party government and insurers out of my exam rooms, is for the Republican party to stand strong against the President's proposals. I also hope they are joined by Democrats to demand the summit start fresh with a totally open slate, and begin again with reforms that give freedom and choice to individuals, with a system designed to lower both insurance premiums, individual costs, and government costs. This will allow the continuation of the best healthcare the world has ever known, while truly bending the cost curve downward.
Unfortunately, I believe the Democrats in Congress, believe they know better than the American public, and will still try to shove this reform plan down our throats. If they do, they will certainly pay the price during the November 2010 elections!! So let us hope they come to their senses, and end the present reform charade.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wellness Network Update:
Just a reminder. Everyone enrolled in a Wellness Program can receive one therapeutic massage at half price. That is $35 for a one hour massage, and $50 for an hour and a half.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Institute For Medical Wellness New Offers:
Our supplement of the month for February 2010 is Revitalize. Revitalize is our once daily multivitamin that contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals, along with small amounts of antioxidant, and liver detoxifying herbs. Revitalize comes in a bottle of 90 capsules, with most people taking 1-3 a day. I find that one a day is sufficient for most, and also allows the bottle to last for 3 months. Through the end of this month, Revitalize will be available for $5 off its regular price. For more information on Revitalize and the other supplements we offer, please visit here.
I have not yet decided on a supplement of the month for March.
Any ideas or suggestions???
To Good Health!
Steven Horvitz, D.O,
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.drhorvitz.com
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Heart and Vascular Disease: Is cholesterol the culprit?
February 4, 2010
Institute For Medical Wellness Healthy Living Report
Heart and Vascular Disease: Is cholesterol the culprit?
For those of you who have had an Institute For Medical Wellness full history and physical, along with complete lab testing, you have had the honor of hearing my speech on cholesterol and heart disease. For those of you who have not, what are you waiting for??
Just kidding.....
Regardless of what you hear from the media, government, insurance companies, or other less than stellar pundits, cholesterol does NOT cause heart disease.
Let me repeat myself.
Cholesterol does NOT cause heart disease.
As with most government-industry partnerships in our country, the advice they have given us about cholesterol is just plain wrong. Now, don't take home the wrong message. It is still important to measure your cholesterol levels. In fact, I prefer to use a more sensitive type of cholesterol test, to better stratify your risk of disease. But the key is not to lower your cholesterol, but whether you need to, and if so, how you lower your cholesterol in the safest and most effective manner.
More on the above is part of our yearly wellness plan physical, which is structured for real life results, instead of the propaganda, fear tactics and rhetoric you hear from the government-insurance partnerships. There are many so called experts out there. Make sure you choose your experts wisely, as not everyone fits into the same mold.
For information on what some of the more likely risks of vascular and heart disease, please visit here, for a very informative article.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Healthcare Reform Update:
Speaking of heart and vascular disease...................
There are many healthcare reform advocates who complain and complain again about our healthcare system. We spend too much! There are too many uninsured. Healthcare should be government run or non-profit! We should use Canada as a model for our healthcare system, after all, healthcare is free up there, and no one is turned away!!
To all the people who claim Canada has better healthcare than the United States, I highly recommend you read the following article, about a Canadian Premier, would be a state governor?? in the USA, who will be undergoing heart surgery later this week. Now I do not live in Canada, and for all I know, their doctors and hospitals may be wonderful. A Canadian Premier should be able to attest to the fact that his country's healthcare system can provide all the necessary care for its citizens.
So what I am getting at??
The Canadian Premier is having his heart surgery in the United States !!!
What does that tell you?
I'll speak for myself instead. When a high ranking elected official of a nation with a government run healthcare system, crosses the border into our country to obtain healthcare, I would say that our doctors and hospitals, stuck in a flawed system, is still the best place to receive the most advanced care in the world!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting Article:
Autism article retraction..
I need to reread this article again. I would advise anyone who has lingering questions on the safety of vaccines to also read this article. On my first read through, I became angry. If a doctor fudged data to help a legal case against a vaccine manufacturer, the doctor should have his license revoked, at a minimum. The study results suggesting an autism link to a vaccine set up an enormous fear of vaccines in general, that may have been unfounded. Parents are always looking to protect their children. Prior to the perceived autism link, vaccines were considered a parent's duty to protect their children. That all changed when the fear of autism arose. Talk about unintended consequences!!
I have seen many vaccines come and go. Most vaccines that have been around for ten years or more are safe for use. Postmarketing surveillance of vaccines has taken many vaccines off the market. But the vaccine fight will not end with the apparent autism retraction. There are still other factors we need to think about before getting a vaccine. Even if an autism link is proven false, other factors such as chemicals and preservatives in vaccines, spacing of vaccines in infants, and proper regulation of the vaccine production will always be an issue. That is why, regardless of the above autism retraction, I only recommend vaccines once they have been available long enough to prove their safety and efficacy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Healthy Weight Program Update:
One of the unique aspects of our Healthy Weight Program is our use of a private shared internet document. This document allows for increased communication between our office and you. The document is used for food diaries, diet and nutrition articles, as well as links to other research and helpful dietary information. My hope is that each Healthy Weight Program enrollee, with the use of this document, will learn enough about proper nutrition, that this will be the last weight program they need to enroll in.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wellness Network Update:
Just a reminder. Everyone enrolled in a Wellness Program can receive one therapeutic massage at half price. That is $35 for a one hour massage, and $50 for an hour and a half.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Institute For Medical Wellness New Offers:
Our supplement of the month for February 2010 is Revitalize. Revitalize is our once daily multivitamin that contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals, along with small amounts of antioxidant, and liver detoxifying herbs. Revitalize comes in a bottle of 90 capsules, with most people taking 1-3 a day. I find that one a day is sufficient for most, and also allows the bottle to last for 3 months. Through the end of this month, Revitalize will be available for $5 off its regular price. For more information on Revitalize and the other supplements we offer, please visit here.
To Good Health!
Steven Horvitz, D.O,
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.drhorvitz.com
Institute For Medical Wellness Healthy Living Report
Heart and Vascular Disease: Is cholesterol the culprit?
For those of you who have had an Institute For Medical Wellness full history and physical, along with complete lab testing, you have had the honor of hearing my speech on cholesterol and heart disease. For those of you who have not, what are you waiting for??
Just kidding.....
Regardless of what you hear from the media, government, insurance companies, or other less than stellar pundits, cholesterol does NOT cause heart disease.
Let me repeat myself.
Cholesterol does NOT cause heart disease.
As with most government-industry partnerships in our country, the advice they have given us about cholesterol is just plain wrong. Now, don't take home the wrong message. It is still important to measure your cholesterol levels. In fact, I prefer to use a more sensitive type of cholesterol test, to better stratify your risk of disease. But the key is not to lower your cholesterol, but whether you need to, and if so, how you lower your cholesterol in the safest and most effective manner.
More on the above is part of our yearly wellness plan physical, which is structured for real life results, instead of the propaganda, fear tactics and rhetoric you hear from the government-insurance partnerships. There are many so called experts out there. Make sure you choose your experts wisely, as not everyone fits into the same mold.
For information on what some of the more likely risks of vascular and heart disease, please visit here, for a very informative article.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Healthcare Reform Update:
Speaking of heart and vascular disease...................
There are many healthcare reform advocates who complain and complain again about our healthcare system. We spend too much! There are too many uninsured. Healthcare should be government run or non-profit! We should use Canada as a model for our healthcare system, after all, healthcare is free up there, and no one is turned away!!
To all the people who claim Canada has better healthcare than the United States, I highly recommend you read the following article, about a Canadian Premier, would be a state governor?? in the USA, who will be undergoing heart surgery later this week. Now I do not live in Canada, and for all I know, their doctors and hospitals may be wonderful. A Canadian Premier should be able to attest to the fact that his country's healthcare system can provide all the necessary care for its citizens.
So what I am getting at??
The Canadian Premier is having his heart surgery in the United States !!!
What does that tell you?
I'll speak for myself instead. When a high ranking elected official of a nation with a government run healthcare system, crosses the border into our country to obtain healthcare, I would say that our doctors and hospitals, stuck in a flawed system, is still the best place to receive the most advanced care in the world!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting Article:
Autism article retraction..
I need to reread this article again. I would advise anyone who has lingering questions on the safety of vaccines to also read this article. On my first read through, I became angry. If a doctor fudged data to help a legal case against a vaccine manufacturer, the doctor should have his license revoked, at a minimum. The study results suggesting an autism link to a vaccine set up an enormous fear of vaccines in general, that may have been unfounded. Parents are always looking to protect their children. Prior to the perceived autism link, vaccines were considered a parent's duty to protect their children. That all changed when the fear of autism arose. Talk about unintended consequences!!
I have seen many vaccines come and go. Most vaccines that have been around for ten years or more are safe for use. Postmarketing surveillance of vaccines has taken many vaccines off the market. But the vaccine fight will not end with the apparent autism retraction. There are still other factors we need to think about before getting a vaccine. Even if an autism link is proven false, other factors such as chemicals and preservatives in vaccines, spacing of vaccines in infants, and proper regulation of the vaccine production will always be an issue. That is why, regardless of the above autism retraction, I only recommend vaccines once they have been available long enough to prove their safety and efficacy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Healthy Weight Program Update:
One of the unique aspects of our Healthy Weight Program is our use of a private shared internet document. This document allows for increased communication between our office and you. The document is used for food diaries, diet and nutrition articles, as well as links to other research and helpful dietary information. My hope is that each Healthy Weight Program enrollee, with the use of this document, will learn enough about proper nutrition, that this will be the last weight program they need to enroll in.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wellness Network Update:
Just a reminder. Everyone enrolled in a Wellness Program can receive one therapeutic massage at half price. That is $35 for a one hour massage, and $50 for an hour and a half.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Institute For Medical Wellness New Offers:
Our supplement of the month for February 2010 is Revitalize. Revitalize is our once daily multivitamin that contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals, along with small amounts of antioxidant, and liver detoxifying herbs. Revitalize comes in a bottle of 90 capsules, with most people taking 1-3 a day. I find that one a day is sufficient for most, and also allows the bottle to last for 3 months. Through the end of this month, Revitalize will be available for $5 off its regular price. For more information on Revitalize and the other supplements we offer, please visit here.
To Good Health!
Steven Horvitz, D.O,
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.drhorvitz.com
Saturday, January 23, 2010
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Institute For Medical Wellness Healthy Living Report
At The Institute For Medical Wellness, we know how to "put out the fires" when it comes to your health. But as Smokey the Bear always said,
"Only you can prevent forest fires"
Hey Doc, "What have you been smoking? What does smokey the bear have to do with my health?"
Let me explain.
When I was in my residency, and cruising the hospital floors, I was often called to "put out the fires". In layman's terms, that meant treating diabetics with high sugars, the elderly with complications of pneumonia, and post-surgical patients with complications or increased pain. My training taught me well and laid the foundation for my further professional skills.
But it is now 19 years since I graduated from medical school, and 16 years since I completed my family practice residency, and I have seen the healthcare system become more and more bogged down, by focusing almost solely on putting out the fires. What I did not see was preventive healthcare. What I did not see was a Smokey the Bear in healthcare helping people to prevent illness.
How bout another quote. This one from Benjamin Franklin.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"
In 2008, with the founding of The Institute for Medical Wellness, I decided to bend the curve towards more prevention of disease as I believe that prevention should be the hallmark and the future of family practice. The affordable Wellness Plans we offer are geared towards helping you work on lifestyle changes to prevent further and future illness. Wellness Plans are especially helpful in patient's with Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity, High Cholesterol, or any other healthcare condition that requires more attention.
How about cancer prevention?
The Institute for Medical Wellness has teamed with Myriad Labs to offer genetic testing for patient's with a history of Breast, Ovarian, Endometrial or Colon Cancer.
In fact, Myriad Labs has offered to perform these tests on five (5) patient's at no cost.
Before you get too excited, there are limits and exclusions to this offer.
1) First, you must be an established patient of our practice,
2) Second, you also have to fit certain criteria listed below:
Patients with any of the following personal or family history features may be candidates for hereditary cancer testing:
Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC)
•Breast Cancer before age 50
•Ovarian Cancer at any age
•Both breast and ovarian cancer
•2 or more breast cancers, one under age 50
•Male breast cancer
•Bilateral breast cancer
•Women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent with breast or ovarian cancer at any age
•A previously identified BRCA mutation
Lynch Syndrome/Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC)
•Endometrial cancer before age 50
•Colorectal cancer before age 50
•2 or more Lynch syndrome cancers, including ovarian, stomach, kidney/urinary tract, brain, or small bowel cancer, in an individual or family
•A previously identified mutation
If you feel you meet the criteria above, please call our office at 856-231-0590 to schedule an evaluation. If you are one of the first five to meet the criteria, we will set you up for testing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting Article:
I came across this article the other day. The title was "California First State to Shorten Wait Times for Doctor Appointments". It made me laugh pretty hard. It appears that the State of California believes that by mandating insurance companies to shorten the waiting time for patient's to be able to see their doctor's, that it would magically happen.
Examples of the new standards include:
•48 hours for urgent care appointments that do not require prior authorization.
•96 hours for urgent care appointments requiring prior authorization (including specialists).
•10 business days for non-urgent primary care appointments.
•15 business days for non-urgent appointments with specialists.
•10 business days for non-urgent appointments with a mental healthcare provider.
Why do I find it so funny? I do not participate with any of the insurers or their regulations. Yet if you call my office in the morning of a workday, you will be offered a same-day appointment 99% of the time. That is what happens when a physicians office decides to cater to patient's, not insurers or government regulators!
Healthcare Reform Update:
Please click here to read a letter to the editor I wrote that was published in the Burlington County Times on January 22, 2010.
Quote of the day from Massachusetts newest Senator Scott Brown about Washington D.C.
"This is the best place in the world when it comes to solving problems"
While I may not totally agree that Washington D.C. is the best place when it comes to solving problems, I do believe that The Institute For Medical Wellness will continue to grow into being the best place in the Moorestown and the South Jersey area to help you solve your healthcare problems, but always with a strong focus on wellness and prevention.
To Good Health!
Steven Horvitz, D.O,
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.drhorvitz.com
To follow The Institute For Medical Wellness on Twitter.
At The Institute For Medical Wellness, we know how to "put out the fires" when it comes to your health. But as Smokey the Bear always said,
"Only you can prevent forest fires"
Hey Doc, "What have you been smoking? What does smokey the bear have to do with my health?"
Let me explain.
When I was in my residency, and cruising the hospital floors, I was often called to "put out the fires". In layman's terms, that meant treating diabetics with high sugars, the elderly with complications of pneumonia, and post-surgical patients with complications or increased pain. My training taught me well and laid the foundation for my further professional skills.
But it is now 19 years since I graduated from medical school, and 16 years since I completed my family practice residency, and I have seen the healthcare system become more and more bogged down, by focusing almost solely on putting out the fires. What I did not see was preventive healthcare. What I did not see was a Smokey the Bear in healthcare helping people to prevent illness.
How bout another quote. This one from Benjamin Franklin.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"
In 2008, with the founding of The Institute for Medical Wellness, I decided to bend the curve towards more prevention of disease as I believe that prevention should be the hallmark and the future of family practice. The affordable Wellness Plans we offer are geared towards helping you work on lifestyle changes to prevent further and future illness. Wellness Plans are especially helpful in patient's with Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity, High Cholesterol, or any other healthcare condition that requires more attention.
How about cancer prevention?
The Institute for Medical Wellness has teamed with Myriad Labs to offer genetic testing for patient's with a history of Breast, Ovarian, Endometrial or Colon Cancer.
In fact, Myriad Labs has offered to perform these tests on five (5) patient's at no cost.
Before you get too excited, there are limits and exclusions to this offer.
1) First, you must be an established patient of our practice,
2) Second, you also have to fit certain criteria listed below:
Patients with any of the following personal or family history features may be candidates for hereditary cancer testing:
Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC)
•Breast Cancer before age 50
•Ovarian Cancer at any age
•Both breast and ovarian cancer
•2 or more breast cancers, one under age 50
•Male breast cancer
•Bilateral breast cancer
•Women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent with breast or ovarian cancer at any age
•A previously identified BRCA mutation
Lynch Syndrome/Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC)
•Endometrial cancer before age 50
•Colorectal cancer before age 50
•2 or more Lynch syndrome cancers, including ovarian, stomach, kidney/urinary tract, brain, or small bowel cancer, in an individual or family
•A previously identified mutation
If you feel you meet the criteria above, please call our office at 856-231-0590 to schedule an evaluation. If you are one of the first five to meet the criteria, we will set you up for testing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting Article:
I came across this article the other day. The title was "California First State to Shorten Wait Times for Doctor Appointments". It made me laugh pretty hard. It appears that the State of California believes that by mandating insurance companies to shorten the waiting time for patient's to be able to see their doctor's, that it would magically happen.
Examples of the new standards include:
•48 hours for urgent care appointments that do not require prior authorization.
•96 hours for urgent care appointments requiring prior authorization (including specialists).
•10 business days for non-urgent primary care appointments.
•15 business days for non-urgent appointments with specialists.
•10 business days for non-urgent appointments with a mental healthcare provider.
Why do I find it so funny? I do not participate with any of the insurers or their regulations. Yet if you call my office in the morning of a workday, you will be offered a same-day appointment 99% of the time. That is what happens when a physicians office decides to cater to patient's, not insurers or government regulators!
Healthcare Reform Update:
Please click here to read a letter to the editor I wrote that was published in the Burlington County Times on January 22, 2010.
Quote of the day from Massachusetts newest Senator Scott Brown about Washington D.C.
"This is the best place in the world when it comes to solving problems"
While I may not totally agree that Washington D.C. is the best place when it comes to solving problems, I do believe that The Institute For Medical Wellness will continue to grow into being the best place in the Moorestown and the South Jersey area to help you solve your healthcare problems, but always with a strong focus on wellness and prevention.
To Good Health!
Steven Horvitz, D.O,
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.drhorvitz.com
To follow The Institute For Medical Wellness on Twitter.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Why I love my job!!
Why I love my job!!
Yea that's right. I love my job, because, if you have not yet noticed, I do it a wee bit different from my colleagues. You see, most of my colleagues practice what I call third-party healthcare, by contracting with HMO's or other insurers to provide your care. This keeps them very busy. A common misconception in primary care is that a busy office is a successful office and contracting with health insurers almost guarantees a busy office! Well, I have a different belief system. I believe that success in medical practice is based upon the good health and goodwill of your patient's. Do a good job, and you are a success. Do a good job meeting HMO criteria but not your patient's individual needs, and well, that is not so good!
HMO's, otherwise known as Health maintenance organizations, an oxymoron if I ever heard of one, may pay doctor's by what is called a capitated rate. This means that the HMO will pay a doctor a certain amount of $$ per month whether a patient is seen or not. This fee ranges from as little as $5/month to as much as $30/month, dependent upon your insurance plan. And by the way, the HMO insurance industry does not classify you as an individual, but as a "covered life". How icky is that??
The doctor also gets paid your copay if and when you visit the office, and occasionally an HMO bonus for meeting certain criteria. What many doctor's don't realize is that by trying to earn a bonus and meet the HMO criteria, their patient's become caught in a numbers game. For example: Did everyone get their cholesterol checked? Did everyone get a colonoscopy? No! Then call up these patient's and get it done. It doesn't matter whether the test is medically necessary, the HMO wants the test done to prove to another third-party, known as Uncle Sam, that it is providing good care. This is called population based care, and is what the present federal government wants to expand. Fit everyone into the same system, regardless of their individual history and needs. I am sorry, but this just does not work for me!! If I go to a doctor and they treat me as a number, or a statistic instead of as an individual, I am out the door quickly!
My colleagues sign 50-plus page contracts with insurers that they do not read. These unread contracts allow third parties power over your healthcare. Seems a little like the 2000+ page Congressional healthcare reform package that is alleged to be able to improve patient care. The only thing that 2000 page bill will cause is a hernia trying to lift it! And if you ever had a hernia, it hurts!! A 2000 page bill certainly will not improve patient care. But let me not digress. These insurance contracts allow the insurer to set up medical guidelines for your care, such as what type of tests to order, and what medications are covered. In essence they take the doctor and make him or her a robot. Now there are excellent doctor's who work within the system. In fact, I believe that 99% of doctors are highly skilled, competent and can do an excellent job. But if they put themselves in a system that restrains them from providing proper care, well, that is not a system that I care to be a part of!
I strongly believe in preventive care. It was one of the major factors in the founding of The Institute For Medical Wellness. But no two individuals are alike. Healthcare needs to be individualized to the patient's needs based on their personal and family health history. I do not allow any third party to tell me what to do for my patient's. If a doctor signs a contract with an insurer, that insurer is inside his head during every patient encounter. Not my idea of individualized patient-centered care.
So why do I love my job? The answer is fairly simple. I have designed a practice that caters to the individual, without any third party intrusions. I offer yearly wellness-retainer options, or payment at time of service for those that do not want a retainer. The retainer options can be paid all upfront, or with a down payment and monthly checking account debit. This monthly checking account debit is essentially a capitation for my services. But my services are spelled out in a simple easy to read and understand two-page contract between myself and my patient. There are no hidden clauses, no ulterior motives and no third party in my exam rooms. I am capitated, but to my patients, and not to any third party.
I average 10-15 patient visits a day, instead of 25+ when I went by the name of "insurance healthcare provider", which is actually pretty funny. When I was a kid, and people asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I didn't say, "I want to be an insurance healthcare provider." I think, no, I am positive, I said I wanted to be a doctor!
And so I am, and I love my job!!
Now take a poll of other doctor's. Ask them if they love their job. You may be surprised at their response.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Healthcare Reform and the AMA
Yes, another healthcare reform piece. We hear all the time on the news how the AMA, (American Medical Association) supports the present healthcare reforms in Congress. As a doctor, I must ask myself why? My job is to do the best I can for my patient's. That is the oath I took when I graduated medical school. The AMA has no such oath. The AMA, by supporting the present reform bills, is watching out only for their corporate entity. I encourage you to read a short piece about why the AMA has thrown doctors and patients under the bus, in favor a huge income windfall from the government. You will be very surprised to find out who the AMA represents and where they get their revenues. I'll give you a hint. The first name in Uncle and the second name is Sam.
To Good Health !!
Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
Yea that's right. I love my job, because, if you have not yet noticed, I do it a wee bit different from my colleagues. You see, most of my colleagues practice what I call third-party healthcare, by contracting with HMO's or other insurers to provide your care. This keeps them very busy. A common misconception in primary care is that a busy office is a successful office and contracting with health insurers almost guarantees a busy office! Well, I have a different belief system. I believe that success in medical practice is based upon the good health and goodwill of your patient's. Do a good job, and you are a success. Do a good job meeting HMO criteria but not your patient's individual needs, and well, that is not so good!
HMO's, otherwise known as Health maintenance organizations, an oxymoron if I ever heard of one, may pay doctor's by what is called a capitated rate. This means that the HMO will pay a doctor a certain amount of $$ per month whether a patient is seen or not. This fee ranges from as little as $5/month to as much as $30/month, dependent upon your insurance plan. And by the way, the HMO insurance industry does not classify you as an individual, but as a "covered life". How icky is that??
The doctor also gets paid your copay if and when you visit the office, and occasionally an HMO bonus for meeting certain criteria. What many doctor's don't realize is that by trying to earn a bonus and meet the HMO criteria, their patient's become caught in a numbers game. For example: Did everyone get their cholesterol checked? Did everyone get a colonoscopy? No! Then call up these patient's and get it done. It doesn't matter whether the test is medically necessary, the HMO wants the test done to prove to another third-party, known as Uncle Sam, that it is providing good care. This is called population based care, and is what the present federal government wants to expand. Fit everyone into the same system, regardless of their individual history and needs. I am sorry, but this just does not work for me!! If I go to a doctor and they treat me as a number, or a statistic instead of as an individual, I am out the door quickly!
My colleagues sign 50-plus page contracts with insurers that they do not read. These unread contracts allow third parties power over your healthcare. Seems a little like the 2000+ page Congressional healthcare reform package that is alleged to be able to improve patient care. The only thing that 2000 page bill will cause is a hernia trying to lift it! And if you ever had a hernia, it hurts!! A 2000 page bill certainly will not improve patient care. But let me not digress. These insurance contracts allow the insurer to set up medical guidelines for your care, such as what type of tests to order, and what medications are covered. In essence they take the doctor and make him or her a robot. Now there are excellent doctor's who work within the system. In fact, I believe that 99% of doctors are highly skilled, competent and can do an excellent job. But if they put themselves in a system that restrains them from providing proper care, well, that is not a system that I care to be a part of!
I strongly believe in preventive care. It was one of the major factors in the founding of The Institute For Medical Wellness. But no two individuals are alike. Healthcare needs to be individualized to the patient's needs based on their personal and family health history. I do not allow any third party to tell me what to do for my patient's. If a doctor signs a contract with an insurer, that insurer is inside his head during every patient encounter. Not my idea of individualized patient-centered care.
So why do I love my job? The answer is fairly simple. I have designed a practice that caters to the individual, without any third party intrusions. I offer yearly wellness-retainer options, or payment at time of service for those that do not want a retainer. The retainer options can be paid all upfront, or with a down payment and monthly checking account debit. This monthly checking account debit is essentially a capitation for my services. But my services are spelled out in a simple easy to read and understand two-page contract between myself and my patient. There are no hidden clauses, no ulterior motives and no third party in my exam rooms. I am capitated, but to my patients, and not to any third party.
I average 10-15 patient visits a day, instead of 25+ when I went by the name of "insurance healthcare provider", which is actually pretty funny. When I was a kid, and people asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I didn't say, "I want to be an insurance healthcare provider." I think, no, I am positive, I said I wanted to be a doctor!
And so I am, and I love my job!!
Now take a poll of other doctor's. Ask them if they love their job. You may be surprised at their response.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Healthcare Reform and the AMA
Yes, another healthcare reform piece. We hear all the time on the news how the AMA, (American Medical Association) supports the present healthcare reforms in Congress. As a doctor, I must ask myself why? My job is to do the best I can for my patient's. That is the oath I took when I graduated medical school. The AMA has no such oath. The AMA, by supporting the present reform bills, is watching out only for their corporate entity. I encourage you to read a short piece about why the AMA has thrown doctors and patients under the bus, in favor a huge income windfall from the government. You will be very surprised to find out who the AMA represents and where they get their revenues. I'll give you a hint. The first name in Uncle and the second name is Sam.
To Good Health !!
Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Fish Oil supplements as a potential cure for global warming ???
August 1, 2009
Fish Oil supplements as a potential cure for global warming ???
Fish Oil supplements as a potential cure for global warming ???I know it sounds far fetched, and I also know there is a lot of debate on whether global warming exists.
And hey, why does it look like Al Gore wearing a clip on his nose?
Please keep reading and humor me for a second....
Let's for a moment or two assume that global warming does exist.
While our politicians debate about global warming, and different options to reduce emissions that contribute to it, can fish oils be helpful?
First a little bit of info on fish oils. Fish oils contain omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to have many positive effects such as:
--improving good cholesterol (HDL)
--lowering triglycerides
--cancer prevention
--helpful for Bipolar illness
--helpful for Rheumatoid Arthritis
--helpful for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
--less pain and inflammation
And hey, why does it look like Al Gore wearing a clip on his nose?
Please keep reading and humor me for a second....
Let's for a moment or two assume that global warming does exist.
While our politicians debate about global warming, and different options to reduce emissions that contribute to it, can fish oils be helpful?
First a little bit of info on fish oils. Fish oils contain omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to have many positive effects such as:
--improving good cholesterol (HDL)
--lowering triglycerides
--cancer prevention
--helpful for Bipolar illness
--helpful for Rheumatoid Arthritis
--helpful for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
--less pain and inflammation
I am sure there are other benefits that we have not yet discovered, but will in the future.
I have been taking fish oils for the past 5 years as a supplement to my diet. The brand I use, from Carlson's Labs, has been tested by an independent lab and found free of impurities and toxic chemicals. This is important when you look to a supplement to use. There are other qualities to look for, and please ask at your next visit. If you have trouble finding a fish oil supplement, we do have Carlson's Fish Oils available at our office in both capsule and liquid form.
But let me get back to fish oils as it relates to global warming.
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to improve your health and help prevent global warming at the same time?
Well, some researchers may have found a way, at least with cows !!
Huh????
Here is an excerpt form an online article in Natural News:
(NaturalNews) Adding fish oil to the diets of cows and other ruminants may significantly reduce the amount of methane that the animals emit via belching or flatulence, according to a study conducted by researchers from University College Dublin and presented at a meeting of the Society for General Microbiology.
Their theory is that adding fish oils to cow feed reduces the amount of bacteria that produce methane gas. This methane, when released in the form of belching or flatulence, is one of the leading global warming gases on our planet. More fish oils, less methane in cow flatulence, less global warming. So if we believe this theory, the above list of uses for fish oils now looks like this:
--improving good cholesterol (HDL)
--lowering triglycerides
--cancer prevention
--Bipolar illness
--Rheumatoid Arthritis
--Inflammatory Bowel Disease
--less pain and inflammation
--REDUCES GLOBAL WARMING
Personally, I feel a better cure for global warming would be to stop all the gases coming out of our Washington, D.C. politicians. They are a truer cause of global warming!!
--improving good cholesterol (HDL)
--lowering triglycerides
--cancer prevention
--Bipolar illness
--Rheumatoid Arthritis
--Inflammatory Bowel Disease
--less pain and inflammation
--REDUCES GLOBAL WARMING
Personally, I feel a better cure for global warming would be to stop all the gases coming out of our Washington, D.C. politicians. They are a truer cause of global warming!!
Send then home to get real jobs, not government jobs that allow them to follow their own special rules, instead of what everyone else follows!
By the way, be sure to ask your senators and representatives if they will accept the same healthcare options that they want you, the American public to take?
When they say no, doesn't that tell you something????
It tells me that something smells in Washington, D.C. !!!!
Please visit www.freeourhealthcarenow.com and sign the petition to keep the government out of your healthcare. So far, the petition has almost 1 million signatures. If you have already signed, please forward to all your friends and family.
To Good Health!!!
Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.drhorvitz.com
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Healthcare Reform - Is it Gloom and Doom for Seniors?
July 26, 2009
Healthcare Reform - Is it Gloom and Doom for Seniors?
I apologize in advance if the purpose of this newsletter is once again reform, but with the daily debates in Washington about overhauling the healthcare system, I feel I have no choice.
Let me be clear.
Our healthcare system needs reform, but the reform must start at home and not in Washington. I founded the Institute For Medical Wellness because the present third party insurance, government and corporate dominance of our healthcare system is unsustainable and detrimental to high quality patient-centered care. I removed myself from the system to be able to provide the patient-centered care that you deserve, not the care that a insurance or government bureaucrat feels you are worth. The present reform bills in Washington, both House and Senate, are focused not on improving care, but on controlling costs by putting more roadblocks into obtaining medical care. These reform proposals aim to incrementally and permanently move individuals and businesses into a government controlled system. This has already been tried in Massachusetts and Tennessee and has not worked, with the costs of the programs and waiting time for medical care both rising exponentially. When government medical costs rise, taxes rise and rationing of care soon follows. In a freer market based system, where individuals have more control of their healthcare decisions and dollars, medical costs and waiting times decrease as medical innovation increases. As costs decrease, care becomes more affordable and accessible to all. Look to the car industry. The cost of a new car today is about the cost of a new car a decade ago. This is not due to government intervention, but due to free market economics. On the other hand, Medicare and Medicaid , both government programs that fix costs, thereby not a free market, have had tremendous costs increases.
At the present time, I participate in Traditional Medicare. But the reform proposals aim to change the Medicare system, and not in a way that is good for patient care. When I stopped participating in insurance plans, some of the plans paid me better than Medicare, some worse. I did not risk my practice due to payments from insurers being too low. I dropped the insurers because they were meddling in the care that I needed to provide. Presently Medicare does not have these roadblocks. Under the present reform proposals, that will all change, and I truly fear for the medical care of seniors. Senior citizens will bear the biggest brunt of the reform due to cuts to Medicare of half a trillion dollars over the next ten years. These cuts will happen even though Medicare enrollment is expected to increase by 30% as the "Baby Boomers" become eligible. So how do we improve care, cut the budget to pay for this care, all while having people enrolled in this care increase by 30%? We can not! The math just does not add up!!
No, you have it wrong doc.
That is not what the reform bill is all about.
We will all get access to better healthcare.
Sorry, but that is just political rhetoric. One of the OBama administrations healthcare advisors, Zeke Emmanuel, has written extensively that the elderly should get less care, especially for incurable illnesses such as dementia, because, they "no longer contribute to society." The following is a quote from Dr Emmanuel:
"An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia. A less obvious example Is is guaranteeing neuropsychological services to ensure children with learning disabilities can read and learn to reason."
Sorry Mom and Dad.
Sorry Grandma and Grandpa.
It was nice knowing you !!
Sorry children. You do not deserve the chance to learn to read and reason!!
I am sorry, but this is not reform, and is not the type of healthcare I expect from our country! This is a planned political medical power grab and medical rationing by the government. Any other conclusions or statements to the contrary is rhetoric, outright lies and deceptions.
There are better ways that benefit individuals and business of all size to better afford medical care, while keeping medical freedoms. Some proposals I agree with are listed below:
1) Allow individuals and small businesses to band together to negotiate better rates with insurance companies.
2) Allow insurance companies to sell policies across state lines. This will increase cost competition and hopefully end state mandates that lead to higher insurance rates.
3) Allow individuals the same tax deductibility for health insurance and healthcare that businesses now enjoy.
4) Decrease defensive medical costs by passing tort reform. Many doctors order tests that may be unnecessary for fear of getting sued. Patient's truly injured by medical malpractice will still be able to sue for damages, but the frivolous lawsuits must be ended.
5) We need more HSA's, (Health Savings Accounts), tied to higher deductible or catastrophic insurance policies. These policies are much, much cheaper than present policies, allow tax free savings for medical care, and protect from medical bankruptcies. It also puts the power of the healthcare decision making and the power of the healthcare dollar back in the hands of the patient, and away from insurers and government bureaucrats.
6) End pre-existing condition clauses in health insurance.
7) Make health insurance portable and not tied to employment. If individuals are allowed to band together as a group to negotiate better insurance rates, why do we need employers to do it for us? Allow employers to give employees, as part of their compensation package, tax free money to purchase their own coverage, if they do not like the coverage offered by their employer. If the government wants to help, they can cover part of the costs of coverage if an individual is between jobs.
There are many other suggestions for reform, the key point in reform is to allow the power of healthcare to remain with the individual, and not a government or third party. If the present reform package becomes law, I truly fear for the health of our country! We need reform that will restore the doctor-patient relationship as the predominant factor in healthcare!! Ask yourself, "Who do you trust to help you make healthcare decisions? Your doctor or Washington politicians??
If you care about healthcare choice and healthcare freedom, I strongly urge that you visit the following website, http://www.defendyourhealthcare.us/ , which contains more in-depth information on the present reform proposals. Please do not be left on the sideline, or say it is too late to stop these reforms. You may agree or disagree with the views on the above website, but you need to be informed, and make certain that your political representatives hear from you!
Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
http://www.drhorvitz.com/
Healthcare Reform - Is it Gloom and Doom for Seniors?
I apologize in advance if the purpose of this newsletter is once again reform, but with the daily debates in Washington about overhauling the healthcare system, I feel I have no choice.
Let me be clear.
Our healthcare system needs reform, but the reform must start at home and not in Washington. I founded the Institute For Medical Wellness because the present third party insurance, government and corporate dominance of our healthcare system is unsustainable and detrimental to high quality patient-centered care. I removed myself from the system to be able to provide the patient-centered care that you deserve, not the care that a insurance or government bureaucrat feels you are worth. The present reform bills in Washington, both House and Senate, are focused not on improving care, but on controlling costs by putting more roadblocks into obtaining medical care. These reform proposals aim to incrementally and permanently move individuals and businesses into a government controlled system. This has already been tried in Massachusetts and Tennessee and has not worked, with the costs of the programs and waiting time for medical care both rising exponentially. When government medical costs rise, taxes rise and rationing of care soon follows. In a freer market based system, where individuals have more control of their healthcare decisions and dollars, medical costs and waiting times decrease as medical innovation increases. As costs decrease, care becomes more affordable and accessible to all. Look to the car industry. The cost of a new car today is about the cost of a new car a decade ago. This is not due to government intervention, but due to free market economics. On the other hand, Medicare and Medicaid , both government programs that fix costs, thereby not a free market, have had tremendous costs increases.
At the present time, I participate in Traditional Medicare. But the reform proposals aim to change the Medicare system, and not in a way that is good for patient care. When I stopped participating in insurance plans, some of the plans paid me better than Medicare, some worse. I did not risk my practice due to payments from insurers being too low. I dropped the insurers because they were meddling in the care that I needed to provide. Presently Medicare does not have these roadblocks. Under the present reform proposals, that will all change, and I truly fear for the medical care of seniors. Senior citizens will bear the biggest brunt of the reform due to cuts to Medicare of half a trillion dollars over the next ten years. These cuts will happen even though Medicare enrollment is expected to increase by 30% as the "Baby Boomers" become eligible. So how do we improve care, cut the budget to pay for this care, all while having people enrolled in this care increase by 30%? We can not! The math just does not add up!!
No, you have it wrong doc.
That is not what the reform bill is all about.
We will all get access to better healthcare.
Sorry, but that is just political rhetoric. One of the OBama administrations healthcare advisors, Zeke Emmanuel, has written extensively that the elderly should get less care, especially for incurable illnesses such as dementia, because, they "no longer contribute to society." The following is a quote from Dr Emmanuel:
"An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia. A less obvious example Is is guaranteeing neuropsychological services to ensure children with learning disabilities can read and learn to reason."
Sorry Mom and Dad.
Sorry Grandma and Grandpa.
It was nice knowing you !!
Sorry children. You do not deserve the chance to learn to read and reason!!
I am sorry, but this is not reform, and is not the type of healthcare I expect from our country! This is a planned political medical power grab and medical rationing by the government. Any other conclusions or statements to the contrary is rhetoric, outright lies and deceptions.
There are better ways that benefit individuals and business of all size to better afford medical care, while keeping medical freedoms. Some proposals I agree with are listed below:
1) Allow individuals and small businesses to band together to negotiate better rates with insurance companies.
2) Allow insurance companies to sell policies across state lines. This will increase cost competition and hopefully end state mandates that lead to higher insurance rates.
3) Allow individuals the same tax deductibility for health insurance and healthcare that businesses now enjoy.
4) Decrease defensive medical costs by passing tort reform. Many doctors order tests that may be unnecessary for fear of getting sued. Patient's truly injured by medical malpractice will still be able to sue for damages, but the frivolous lawsuits must be ended.
5) We need more HSA's, (Health Savings Accounts), tied to higher deductible or catastrophic insurance policies. These policies are much, much cheaper than present policies, allow tax free savings for medical care, and protect from medical bankruptcies. It also puts the power of the healthcare decision making and the power of the healthcare dollar back in the hands of the patient, and away from insurers and government bureaucrats.
6) End pre-existing condition clauses in health insurance.
7) Make health insurance portable and not tied to employment. If individuals are allowed to band together as a group to negotiate better insurance rates, why do we need employers to do it for us? Allow employers to give employees, as part of their compensation package, tax free money to purchase their own coverage, if they do not like the coverage offered by their employer. If the government wants to help, they can cover part of the costs of coverage if an individual is between jobs.
There are many other suggestions for reform, the key point in reform is to allow the power of healthcare to remain with the individual, and not a government or third party. If the present reform package becomes law, I truly fear for the health of our country! We need reform that will restore the doctor-patient relationship as the predominant factor in healthcare!! Ask yourself, "Who do you trust to help you make healthcare decisions? Your doctor or Washington politicians??
If you care about healthcare choice and healthcare freedom, I strongly urge that you visit the following website, http://www.defendyourhealthcare.us/ , which contains more in-depth information on the present reform proposals. Please do not be left on the sideline, or say it is too late to stop these reforms. You may agree or disagree with the views on the above website, but you need to be informed, and make certain that your political representatives hear from you!
Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
http://www.drhorvitz.com/
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
You call that Healthcare Reform???
July 21, 2009
We are all hearing alot of hubbub about healthcare reform.
This is too important a topic, so let me speak on this subject for just a moment.
First a little background. I grew up in my father's medical office, back in the 70's when an office visit was $8 and when you paid your bill, you left with a smile and a lollypop. I watched these interactions with patient's. I saw trust and confidence that the doctor-patient interaction was always all about the patient. There were no third party intermediaries.
Fast-forward to 2009. The healthcare system has changed. Some have said the sytem has been stolen by special interests. Physicians and hospitals, in agreeing to work with government and private insurance plans, have all but given up control of the healthcare system. When in the 70's, medical decisions were made by the doctor and the patient, now these decisions need to go through bureaucratic entanglements that place your medical care outside the scope of your physcian. The doctor-patient interaction has now become the doctor-insurer-bureaucrat-actuary-patient interaction.
For example:
If you need an MRI, it is no longer as simple as getting a doctor's prescription, making the appointment and getting it done. Now, the MRI "request" has to be pre-authorized by your insurance plan. You can not make the appointment until this pre-authorization has occured. This pre-authorization is just one set of guidelines that slow down the acquisition of care, and in many cases deny it altogether. Your insurance plan is not examining you, yet is somehow is able to deny you care your doctor wants you to have!
If you need a prescription medication that is not generic, most likely it will not be "On Formulary". This means that you have no coverage for this medication and your insurer will offer to switch to a cheaper drug, all to save money for the insurance plan. What if using an alternative insurance approved medicine does not work, and you end up worse, or even needing hospitalization? Saving money is wonderful, if it is effective and in the best interests of each individual patient. But these rules are not for patient's benefit, but for the benefit of the power holding the dollar, in this case, the insurance plan.
Insurance companies AND government regulators are playing doctor with your health. They have power and control over how your healthcare dollar is spent. Your insurer's goal is to make a profit off of your insurance premiums and to spend as little as possible, even if it means delaying or denying care. The government's goal is to spend as little as possible and meddle in your healthcare decisions to attain that objective. Now, I have no problem with saving money. There is a lot of waste in healthcare. But this waste began when the third parties, the government and health insurers inserted themselves into the medical decision making process. If our system is ever to change for the better, we need these third parties out of our exam rooms. We need health insurance to once again be insurance, that covers large bills, or catastrophic costs, so medical illness will never cause one to lose their home. We do not need them in our exam rooms telling doctors and patient's what tests to run or what treatment to prescribe.
The supermajority of doctor's are for reform of the present system. We want to get back to where decisions are made solely between doctor's and patient's. While I can not speak for all doctor's, I can speak for myself. In fact I did it with my pen and my feet 2 years ago, when I terminated my contracts with insurers, and founded The Institute For Medical Wellness. This was the only way I knew to be able to work solely for you, without any third party intruder. Many more doctor's are now starting to follow my lead.
You may have heard that the AMA (American Medical Association) has given their support to the present healthcare bill going through committees in Congress. Let me make it known that I have never been a member of the AMA, and I do NOT support the present bills. These bills give more power to bureaucrats, and less to patients and doctors and will only make the system worse and more costly. The AMA, unfortunately, is a political organization, that does not necessarily represent doctor's, but actually represents it's own corporation. The AMA makes millions of dollars selling and licensing medical coding books to sell to doctor's and hospitals. These coding books contribute to the massive overhead of the present third party system. So any reformed system that continues this coding system, will benefit the AMA's corporation, thus their apparent support of the present reforms being debated. Physician's have finally wised up and are quitting the AMA in droves. A recent poll on Sermo, a doctor's only website, has over 94% of physicians against the present healthcare reform package. So when you hear in the media that doctors are for the present reform package, it is untrue. The AMA does not speak for nor represent physicians.
If healthcare reform is to work, patient's and physicians must unite. If healthcare reform is to work, the power of the healthcare dollar needs to be returned to individuals. Health insurance must once again be insurance, and not healthplans with thousands of strings attached. Patient's must have choices in insurance and physicians. Third party involvement in the exam room must end! Unfortunately, the present reform bills want the opposite, less patient choice, more third party bureaucracy, and decreased patient-physician autonomy. Too much power of the healthcare dollar in the hands of any third party, whether it be an insurer or government agency will harm our system beyond repair.
There is a better way, and it is why in 2008 I started The Institute For Medical Wellness. We act as your personal health advocate, not that of your insurance company. You receive personalized, individualized care without regards to any third party. We are an independent practice committed to offering the absolute best care- without compromise.
Now to get off my soapbox, I would like to announce a new offer at The Institute For Medical Wellness. As many of you already know, Julie Fischer has been providing therapeutic massage services for the past few months. She would like to extend a special birthday offer. A one hour massage is regularly $70. But during your birthday month, you can receive this 1 hour massage for only $45. We are confident that once you have tried Julie's massage, you will come back for more.
I would also like to remind you of our new Wellness Plans, which may include holistic, nutritional, and heart healthy options. They can be found here.
To Good Health!
Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.DrHorvitz.com
We are all hearing alot of hubbub about healthcare reform.
This is too important a topic, so let me speak on this subject for just a moment.
First a little background. I grew up in my father's medical office, back in the 70's when an office visit was $8 and when you paid your bill, you left with a smile and a lollypop. I watched these interactions with patient's. I saw trust and confidence that the doctor-patient interaction was always all about the patient. There were no third party intermediaries.
Fast-forward to 2009. The healthcare system has changed. Some have said the sytem has been stolen by special interests. Physicians and hospitals, in agreeing to work with government and private insurance plans, have all but given up control of the healthcare system. When in the 70's, medical decisions were made by the doctor and the patient, now these decisions need to go through bureaucratic entanglements that place your medical care outside the scope of your physcian. The doctor-patient interaction has now become the doctor-insurer-bureaucrat-actuary-patient interaction.
For example:
If you need an MRI, it is no longer as simple as getting a doctor's prescription, making the appointment and getting it done. Now, the MRI "request" has to be pre-authorized by your insurance plan. You can not make the appointment until this pre-authorization has occured. This pre-authorization is just one set of guidelines that slow down the acquisition of care, and in many cases deny it altogether. Your insurance plan is not examining you, yet is somehow is able to deny you care your doctor wants you to have!
If you need a prescription medication that is not generic, most likely it will not be "On Formulary". This means that you have no coverage for this medication and your insurer will offer to switch to a cheaper drug, all to save money for the insurance plan. What if using an alternative insurance approved medicine does not work, and you end up worse, or even needing hospitalization? Saving money is wonderful, if it is effective and in the best interests of each individual patient. But these rules are not for patient's benefit, but for the benefit of the power holding the dollar, in this case, the insurance plan.
Insurance companies AND government regulators are playing doctor with your health. They have power and control over how your healthcare dollar is spent. Your insurer's goal is to make a profit off of your insurance premiums and to spend as little as possible, even if it means delaying or denying care. The government's goal is to spend as little as possible and meddle in your healthcare decisions to attain that objective. Now, I have no problem with saving money. There is a lot of waste in healthcare. But this waste began when the third parties, the government and health insurers inserted themselves into the medical decision making process. If our system is ever to change for the better, we need these third parties out of our exam rooms. We need health insurance to once again be insurance, that covers large bills, or catastrophic costs, so medical illness will never cause one to lose their home. We do not need them in our exam rooms telling doctors and patient's what tests to run or what treatment to prescribe.
The supermajority of doctor's are for reform of the present system. We want to get back to where decisions are made solely between doctor's and patient's. While I can not speak for all doctor's, I can speak for myself. In fact I did it with my pen and my feet 2 years ago, when I terminated my contracts with insurers, and founded The Institute For Medical Wellness. This was the only way I knew to be able to work solely for you, without any third party intruder. Many more doctor's are now starting to follow my lead.
You may have heard that the AMA (American Medical Association) has given their support to the present healthcare bill going through committees in Congress. Let me make it known that I have never been a member of the AMA, and I do NOT support the present bills. These bills give more power to bureaucrats, and less to patients and doctors and will only make the system worse and more costly. The AMA, unfortunately, is a political organization, that does not necessarily represent doctor's, but actually represents it's own corporation. The AMA makes millions of dollars selling and licensing medical coding books to sell to doctor's and hospitals. These coding books contribute to the massive overhead of the present third party system. So any reformed system that continues this coding system, will benefit the AMA's corporation, thus their apparent support of the present reforms being debated. Physician's have finally wised up and are quitting the AMA in droves. A recent poll on Sermo, a doctor's only website, has over 94% of physicians against the present healthcare reform package. So when you hear in the media that doctors are for the present reform package, it is untrue. The AMA does not speak for nor represent physicians.
If healthcare reform is to work, patient's and physicians must unite. If healthcare reform is to work, the power of the healthcare dollar needs to be returned to individuals. Health insurance must once again be insurance, and not healthplans with thousands of strings attached. Patient's must have choices in insurance and physicians. Third party involvement in the exam room must end! Unfortunately, the present reform bills want the opposite, less patient choice, more third party bureaucracy, and decreased patient-physician autonomy. Too much power of the healthcare dollar in the hands of any third party, whether it be an insurer or government agency will harm our system beyond repair.
There is a better way, and it is why in 2008 I started The Institute For Medical Wellness. We act as your personal health advocate, not that of your insurance company. You receive personalized, individualized care without regards to any third party. We are an independent practice committed to offering the absolute best care- without compromise.
Now to get off my soapbox, I would like to announce a new offer at The Institute For Medical Wellness. As many of you already know, Julie Fischer has been providing therapeutic massage services for the past few months. She would like to extend a special birthday offer. A one hour massage is regularly $70. But during your birthday month, you can receive this 1 hour massage for only $45. We are confident that once you have tried Julie's massage, you will come back for more.
I would also like to remind you of our new Wellness Plans, which may include holistic, nutritional, and heart healthy options. They can be found here.
To Good Health!
Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.DrHorvitz.com
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