This is the time for change and I am taking the liberties in expressing my thoughts and views about different changes proposed by the new administration. I am writing nowadays hoping that even if this is read and understood by even one person visiting this site will make my one week efforts worthwhile that I have spent in formulating my thoughts.
I will start this write-up with a small note to my fellow Biotech folks, that this deviation in my thoughts from Biotech to Health Care Reforms is temporary but very valid, thinking that this is the right time to put it across, if this is taken care of will address the issues faced by a common man facing financial difficulties and praying that he/she never falls sick and has to visit the Doctor office dreading the Medical Bill!
With that said, I promise that my next write-up will be dedicated to Biotech community again and will probably cover about Google's $100 Million proposed spending on Biotech start-ups mainly trying to capture the Therapeutics development area that was announced recently.
Getting back to the Health Care Reforms some vital questions to be addressed are:
1. Will Health Care Reform also mean to get more insight into the Medical Billing Issues?
2. What it will mean in terms of Transparency as how a patient is treated and what is the best available treatment for him/her?
Currently, the decision is very much guided by the doctor and is very much within a Dark Box. If one is visiting a doctor for some clinical conditions, it is about Doctor’s conscience and how he/she thinks about it? Is the Doctor 'Service Oriented' or in a 'Money Making Mode' or simply not very caught up with the latest advancements in the Medical Technology?
If a patient has a fair chance of getting a quick and reliable plan in place to take a second opinion from any Doctor within U.S. in a timely manner that will be a big restructuring of the way the Health Care is managed today. So far, if a patient wants to get the medical records, one has to follow a long procedure thus further delaying the course of treatment.
To make my points and thoughts clear, I would like to share the experience of my friend to have you a feel of what I am trying to convey... My friend visited to a reputed Hospital in Bay Area for an Annual Physical Check-up (supposed to be covered 100% by her Insurance Company) and she was surprised by receiving a Medical Bill for over $1000! When she called the Insurance Company, she was able to figure out that Physician's office had sent the Bill to the Insurance Company justifying her visit to the Doctor’s office was for “Various Clinical Conditions”! She is still trying to convince the doctor’s office that she had taken an appointment for the Annual Physical Visit but Doctor’s office or the Hospital has not responded to her letters so far. So folks, this example only speaks about a visit to the Doctor for Annual Physical Check-up?!
In a nutshell, from a common man’s perspective it all comes down to how comfortably he/she can walk into the Clinic without having questions about the payments/ best treatment availability in the back of the mind as well about the Transparency of the Health Care System. If this is addressed in coming times, everyone will be benefited and we can believe in the system.
More to follow…….. 
