Comments on: Medicare Nixes "Virtual Colonoscopies"
CBS Evening News: Government Won't Pay For Non-Invasive Screening Despite High Detection Rate
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- I think its wonderful that the government is taking over our health care decisions. They are so much smarter about things than we are. Someday we wont have to worry our little minds about this stuff at all. Our government will have rules that guide us all the way.
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- Virtual colonoscopy has essentially the same negative aspects as optical colonoscopy - full day bowel prep, air insufflation (without the benefit of sedation). The additional negatives are radioation exposure and having to go through extra tests for other abnormalities found in the abdomen.
What radiologist is going to pass up the possibility of generating more business by commenting on a kidney cyst that needs an ultrasound, blood vessel deposits that require an angiogram, or a vertebral compression fracture that needs an MRI for "further characterization".?
Do we seriously want the government to open the door to this kind of test that will raise the cost of health care? The administration just announced Medicare dollars are drying up faster than ever!
If you really don't want a colonoscopy, do the stool test every year - it is cheaper and there is no research to show that it is less effective than colonoscopy at preventing cancer. Just be warned...any and all positive tests lead to a colonoscopy anyway. - Reply to this comment
- What they don't tell you is that MOST/MAJORITY of colonoscopies are NEGATIVE, i.e. no tumors and no polyps are found and therefore there is nothing to be removed. So you have an expensive screening colonoscopy, which runs a small risk of perforation requiring an emergency bowel surgery (which is a huge deal if it happens to you). VIRTUAL colonoscopy is uncomfortable, since you get the same bowel prep and your colon is distended with gas during the time of the exam, but it is 1. HALF THE COST 2. HAS NO RISK OF PERFORATION 3. and there is NO RISK OF CONSCIOUS SEDATION putting you to sleep permanently. Sounds like bunch of GI doctors doing colonoscopies have powerful friends in the government, and they are holding off competition (for now; they will ultimately lose on the ground of cost-efficiency).
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- Here come the cuts from Obama's socialized health care! It's all so sad! Modern technology that would save thousands of lives of Americans. To stay the leader of the world with advanced procedures like this, WE should all denounce socialized health care and demand the best!
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- It might also be noted that Obama has given every single American a free Colonoscopy (he may have failed to inform us)but when you don't use greese or any lube all you can do is grin and bare it ! Just get used to it because he's only just begun...
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- This is Obama 's doing and it hurts many more blacks than whites.It's how Muslims (Cull) the population.Nice going President Obama! There are times like these that he show's his true color.(Can you guess what Color he's showing?)
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- Those of you pushing for government healthcare should wake up. Limiting what tests you can have will be part of the deal. Canada and the UK already live with (or should I say die with) these restrictions every day.
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- The prep in a colonoscopy is the worst part. The procedure is nothing as they put you under for it and it takes about 15 minutes. If VC required no prep, then it would be the thing to do but since you have to drink the Koolaide anyway, might as well get a real colonoscopy instead.
Posted by 38654ob
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No risk with the virtual, compared to a significant amount of risk with the "real" thing. Risk from the anaesthesia and risk of perforation. I would have a virtual tomorrow, but have refused a colonoscopy. - Reply to this comment
- Well, I would be up for the virtual screening, but I have refused a colonoscopy. One thing they forgot to mention was the risk from a colonoscopy. I have a friend who recently went in for one and woke up after major gut surgery because the perforated his colon during the treatment and had to go in and repair the damage. It is ludicrous for the government to refuse to pay for this non-invasive procedure. Anything that is non-invasive is a good thing and they could save a lot of money in the long run.
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- Economist: US collapse driven by 'fraud'; Geithner covering up bank insolvency
Stephen C. Webster
Published: Saturday April 4, 2009
In an explosive interview on PBS' Bill Moyers Journal, William K. Black, a professor of economics and law with the University of Missouri, alleged that American banks and credit agencies conspired to create a system in which so-called "liars loans" could receive AAA ratings and zero oversight, amounting to a massive "fraud" at the epicenter of US finance.
But worse still, said Black, Timothy Geithner, President Barack Obama's Secretary of the Treasury, is currently engaged in a cover-up to keep the truth of America's financial insolvency from its citizens.
FULL ARTICLE HERE:
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Economist_US_collapse_driven_by_fraud_0404.html
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More details here:
http://worldreports.org/news - Reply to this comment
