Welcome to Warner Family Medicine!
WHAT GOOD IS HAPPENING TO HEALTHCARE IN THE USA?
An emphasis toward a partnership in health care is emerging. As a matter of fact, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a “G-code” in April 2009 that physicians can use to signify that “a partnership in healthcare” occurred during an evaluation and management encounter (office visit). The next steps in healthcare will be to promote preventive care and create accountability to doctors and patients.
Starting January 2011, Medicare recipients will be encouraged to have annual physicals. Medicare is moving from not paying for physicals to promoting them. Annual physicals/well visits will not require a co-pay and will not count toward the person’s deductible. Promoting annual physicals is a good thing and will save suffering, disease and tax dollars. Even people who are in the office on a regular basis can benefit from a yearly physical. An important list of Issues, such as colonscopy and living will, are discussed in addition to the physical examination.
Accountability measures will reward patients and doctors. Co-pay amounts for office visits and annual deductible amount are likely to be influenced by your participation in your health. Soon to be the past, you were asked to pay more if you had disease(s). Many with elevated cholesterol, for example, found it difficult to get insurance. If they did, they were penalized with “pre-existing condition” clauses. The future of medicine will not focus on what words have been used to describe your condition(s), but what you do to help manage. A patient with diabetes, for example, should have certain tests done at least once a year. They include HbA1c and cholesterol blood tests. A special urine test for protein. Seeing an eye doctor and getting a flu shot. What if you are allergic to flu shots? We have a code for “flu shot allergy.” As you participate with your care, your costs will reduce.
Our staff encourages you to participate in your health care. You should know what tests are needed to manage you health and you should know what the tests mean. If you are on medications, you should know what each is for and should feel confident that they are necessary.
You can watch cable television and hear many views on the futute of healthcare in the USA. We will leave the drama for the actors and the politics for the polititions. Meanwhile, we will work with the best parts of any system for your best health, Dr Mike
