Dr. Offodile said surgeons and care staff need to create the “emotional space” for patients to talk about cost issues. Sometimes patients feel shame talking about financial hardship when faced with chronic illnesses, but it shouldn’t be that way, he said.
Nearly one in five Americans report medical debt, according to a 2021 report from The Journal of the American Medical Association.Medical debt and financial burdens of paying for health care can drastically increase stress, reduce quality of life and, in some cases, lead to earlier deaths for insured and uninsured alike, experts said at a presentation at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy on Wednesday.
Health care costs have risen steadily since the ‘70s, soaring to $4.1 trillion in 2020 from $74.1 billion in 1970, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Throughout the years, insurance companies have had to raise premiums, and many employers had to scale back coverage. As costs are passed onto patients, they struggle to pay their bills, which damages credit, and sometimes making them hesitant to get care.
Cancer patients, in particular, are most likely to experience financial hardship due to their illness. Cancer is the second most expensive chronic condition per capita in the U.S, according to a 2019 report in the Journal of Surgical Oncology. Up to 73 percent of survivors report financial hardship. Physicians should have cost discussions with their patients, Offodile said. It doesn’t have to be an in depth conversation, he said, but doctors should gauge how much of a concern costs are for patients. These discussions take a couple minutes, he said, and no clinic is “too busy” to conduct them.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Pro-life medical experts rip media's coverage of abortion: Not following 'science' but 'political rhetoric'News outlets like the Washington Post, New York Times, and NBC often adopt pro-choice terms and framing when reporting about abortion.
Lire la suite »
Healthcare workforce makes slow comeback while filling some vacancies proves challenging, study findsWhile our nation’s health care system has started to rebound since COVID first caused panic, the demand for long-time health care workers is still critical.
Lire la suite »
'Street medicine' team offers medical help to South Bay homeless residentsICYMI from KPBS Midday Edition: A Chula Vista-based outreach group will offer basic medical care to homeless residents.
Lire la suite »
Texas got millions to boost pay for strapped home care attendants. It left out the largest group.Texas got millions to boost pay for strapped health care attendants. It left out the largest group.
Lire la suite »
As major airlines drop their mask mandates after federal ruling, some schools and public-transport systems still say wear your maskMajor airlines including Delta, United and American Airlines now say masks will be optional. Train travelers and employees on Amtrak are no longer required to wear masks. Greyhound said masks are now optional, except for trips into Mexico and Canada.
Lire la suite »
Many airlines and employers are now dropping their mask mandates. But some schools and other public spaces still require them. Here's what you should know.Major airlines including Delta, United and American Airlines now say masks will be optional. Train travelers and employees on Amtrak are no longer required to wear masks. Greyhound said masks are now optional, except for trips into Mexico and Canada.
Lire la suite »