Deep Thoughts By: Niel

There is a lot of chatter in our country about making healthcare available to everyone. Recently Obama made a big down payment towards universalizing healthcare. As we sit right now, it is estimated that some 45 million Americans go without health coverage. If you ask me the problem is not that some Americans don't have health coverage, the problem is that too many of those who have coverage abuse it! I'll give you two examples:

1. Last week a large man came into the clinic; his exact size is unknown because our scales only go up to 350 lbs. He came in for a follow up on his diabetes and asked if we would prescribe him a new glucose monitor (a device for measuring blood sugar levels). I asked him why he needed a new monitor and he said, the batteries were dead (we're talking about 2 AA batteries). The next obvious question; why don't you get some new batteries? He said that finances were a little "tight." You see, with medicaid we can prescribe him a new monitor, which doesn't cost him a penny, but we can't prescribe batteries; he would have to pay for those out-of-pocket. I understand that times are tough right now, but I have a hard time believing that anyone who can afford to feed themselves the 4,000-5,000 calories a day necessary to sustain that weight can't afford $2.99 for some new batteries.

2. A 24 year old man with a fully functioning brain came into the clinic with his mom and asked for some medicine to help him read, because he "can't read good." Nothing else needs to be said.

The bottom line is when people know they can get something for nothing they tend to abuse it.

Here's a list of medical faux pas that should get first time offenders kicked off medicaid for life:

(these are things I've witnessed first hand)

1. Going to the Emergency Department for any of the following reasons:

-You have a cold/allergies

-To fill your prescriptions

-You need a physical for your employer

-You know you'll get a free meal and peak at a hot nurse.

2. You sell your prescription drugs on the street for cash.

3. You pop one tablet of penicillin from your stash of extra antibiotics every time you think you're coming down with something. (I wouldn't include it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes).

4. You want a doctors note stating that the extra dark tint on your car windows is for "medical reasons."

5. You request a magic pill for "reading good," turning fat into muscle, or making you smarter.

If you do make enough money to pay taxes, this is where a lot of your money is going. Healthcare costs are skyrocketing out of control, but most poeple don't understand why.

It is in large part due to those who recklessly abuse the priviledge of receiving government-assisted medical care.