Ara Deukmedjian, MD, CEO, Medical Director, Deuk Spine Institute, Melbourne, Fla., discusses why improving reimbursement at spine surgery practices is such a challenge.
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Question: What are some of the pitfalls to improving reimbursement at spine practices?
Dr. Ara Deukmedjian: The biggest obstacle to improved reimbursement is the political influence and sheer shrewdness of the health insurers. The tobacco industry spends $50 million a year lobbying politicians in Washington, DC, and for their investment they retain the right to sell one of the most harmful products ever brought to the free market — cigarettes. We all know cigarettes kill thousands of Americans every year and cause serious disease in millions more and yet for $50 million dollars a year the tobacco industry has bought off politicians — lawmakers — that enable the industry to continue to thrive and commit mass murder by poisoning smokers bodies.
Now, the health insurance industry doesn't spend $50 million a year lobbying, they spend far more. As a matter of fact the health insurance industry spends an estimated $500 million a year paying off politicians through lobbying efforts that allow the insurers to continue to [ravage] our healthcare system and allow the insurers unlimited access to control, modify and write the rules for the delivery of medical care in our great nation. Every one of us reading this article knows of a person that cannot or did not get the medical care their doctor ordered because the insurance company denied the treatment or test. Every one of us knows of someone whose medical care was denied by an insurance company. And we all go on and act as though "it's fine." Well, it is not fine.
It's not fine that an insurance company can deny needed medical care to a covered beneficiary at whim and will. They should not be the ones to decide if medical care is "necessary," and yet they are. Only a treating doctor can decide what his or her patient needs. If you think it is "ok" for your insurance company to decide what medical care you need then you should have your head checked immediately because you are not thinking clearly. The insurance company does not care about you. They don't care if you are well or sick. All the insurer cares about is — are you costing them money? The insurance company is only interested in increasing their profit margins and they do this at the expense of your health and well being. Only you can put an end to the cancerous growth of the health insurers influence on your own health by taking back control of your medical care.
This will need to be done on a grass roots level. No one person can do it alone. You must unite and demand the insurance companies stay out of your physician-patient relationship, forever! The insurance company should only be there to pay your medical bills. They don't have a right, or the medical training, to tell you what medical care is necessary. Laws need to be made that prevent the insurer from paying for your needed medical care as determined by your personal physician.
I share this truth with you only because I was brought up to believe our health was the most important thing in the world to have and that you could trust your doctors to keep you healthy. When we drink, we toast "to your health." Health is so important and it should never be put into the control of a business that profits from you not receiving medical care. I know the physician-patient relationship is being destroyed by the insurance companies intentionally and I believe only you can stop this from happening.
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