$1,000,000,000,000.00 = 0

The CNNMoney article showed that $1.2 trillion are dumped into the health care toilet each year. It’s hard to grasp how much a trillion dollars actually is, but written out, that’s $1,000,000,000,000.00. A lot of wasted zero’s. Disgusting. It seems as though everyone is trying to find the culprit of our health care debt pointing at physicians, hospitals, and insurance companies, while we fail to see that we are the spark that ignites much of America’s waste.

The biggest factor that contributes to this excess comes from overtesting, or “defensive medicine.” Our doctors are practicing “defensive medicine” because of offensive patients. Doctors are watching out for their own tails and jobs. This is understandable considering patients willingness to sue at the first hint of human error. I’m curious as to how much money is paid out due to malpractice awards every year? How much of this can we pin to the list of health care waste? A cap to malpractice awards seems reasonable and timely.

We are also at fault for wanting the newest, best, and most expensive health care products and procedures. Examples include: Going to the ER for strep throat, buying $1200 TPA vs. $300 streptokinase, and purchasing the $800 metal stent vs. the $2200 stent. We are “getting what [we] pay for” since we are asking for the best.

I realize that I didn’t cover all of the factors contributing to health care waste, but it still seems that we are the instigators to many of them. The CNNMoney article gave some of Obama’s reform ideas for these factors, and on the surface they look like they will help. But, I am skeptical, yet hopeful. Solution can only be seen after results.

So, in conclusion, is health care a right? Yes. I believe everyone who needs help should receive it. So then, the question becomes what quality health care should everyone receive? The best quality health care or just good quality health care? I think Americans, individually want the best health care for themselves, but this would only deepen our health care debt and fuel our waste. We need to tighten our loose pockets and let out some air from our egotistical minds and consider the idea of community. Let’s go to a general practitioner for minor illnesses! Lets buy streptokinase and the cheaper metal stent! Then, good health care for all!!