Cost Containment

I have always thought that cost containment should be part of our general education. However, since our education in El Paso is doing so poorly under the direction of the school board, I just dont see how we can give them any more material.  

We need a cabinet position for cost containment and similar positions in most departments.  Lets look at healthcare and see if we can find a few examples.

In the area of cervical cancer we know the chief cause is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).  We also know that the lab work for HPV, consists of taking a blood specimen and sending it to the laboratory for results.  We know that those results are very accurate and in fact more accurate and faster than getting a PAP smear.  Beyond this the results for a blood test can be done in 24 hours, compared to the weeks delay for the PAP smear.  Also the PAP smear relies on a histologist, pathologist to look at the slide, a doctor OB/GYN to get the biopsy, and the blood work requires a medical technologist putting your specimen into a machine.  Automation cuts cost, labor, and human error.

If the test is positive for HPV, treatment is initiated and the vaccine is given.  The vaccine you can probably get at any Walgreens, or CVS or any pharmacy you choose.    The results are that the vaccine is almost 100% effective in preventing cervical cancer.

So why do doctors still do PAP smears?  For the money!!!  The lab will cost $35 dollars and that includes everything.  The PAP smear will cost lots more.  So women who have no resources, young teen, young adolescents, young adults, dont have the money to pay for it.   So it is that doctors are willing to risk an entire generation of young women, to cervical cancer, for the almighty dollar.  Yes sir, In God We TRust.

Ideally what would work better would be a small machine like a glucometer, so that young women could do their own, just like diabetics test their sugar.  Either that or, a urine test that would resemble the pregnancy test.  

Now the AMA could sponsor these changes, but they are a union.  The OB/GYN doctors make a lot of money from PAP smears.   The oncology doctors make a lot of money when they treat your cancer.   The Pharmaceutical industry makes a lot of money.

Now the ACS, American Cancer Society, gets a lot of donations, billions from women. This from an organization that is not lead by an OB/GYN and makes its owners rich.

This would be a great debate question.  If only people like Ann Coulter and Sarah Palin would read a book once in a while, or Cindy McCain, or Olivia Snow, or Susan Martinez.  Or Emma Acosta, or Isela Castanon-Williams, or Estela Casas or even our county judge.   We could include Natalicio.  Or even the girls from The View, or The Talk, anybody.

The point is medicare is so expensive because we pay doctors for things we shouldnt. The point is that people need to read more and watch TV less, the point is that this should be taught in school.  This is a life and death issue ..... this is just as important as football or baseball, or more important than the olympics, more important than dancing with the stars, more important than the voice.

Oh and before I forget, three debates are scheduled, and the election is November 6th.