Widows & Widowers Support Group

This community is dedicated to those who have lost a husband, wife, or partner. Anything is open for discussion here, with the hope that we can focus on grief, bereavement, life after loss, and continuing on after a great loss.

3,758 Members
19,465 Posts
0 Online
Death & Dying
/ Widows & Widowers Support Group

OT: Medical Visits

Truhal
Truhal
I visited my doctor today. I have high blood pressure. I was told that there are new rules that every patient must visit their doctor every six months or they will not provide medication. My medication was held hostage for about a month because I didn't have time to visit.

Before I'd see her every year. Now there are mandatory lab test. She's a good doctor, but I'm concerned that my future medical decisions will be impacted by these new rules. Her hands are tied. The hospital has recently merged with another hospital.

My question: Is anyone else experiencing this? I was given the impression that the hospital was following new government guidelines. I feel like they're just looking for more money.
Community LeaderShrn
Shrn
I understand your frustration and have felt it too. Government involvement in health care is a double edged sword. The world has and is changing and not always for the benefit of the community. Sharon
Truhal
Truhal
It's so sad. I've been with her for years. She's a good doctor and understood my dignity in dying issues. She never pushed me to get medical test. And I always knew she was a phone call away. Now I'm on hold for 45 minutes due to the new phone system. I can get in touch with my cable company faster.

I fear for the future. I have legal documents, but have already read that doctors can overwrite your decisions. I do not want to end up 100 years old and hooked up to machines.
Sara59
Sara59
I have to go every three months. Doc says it would be fine for me to come every six but guidelines state every three. It's about medication for me too. The pendulum will eventually swing the other way.
cleodoggie
cleodoggie
I have not heard of this regulation. A doctor cannot ptrescribe medication when they don't see their patient. You made me jump up from the computer and make my doctor appointment, I am a diabetic and I need my medication!
Truhal
Truhal
I don't think it will swing the other way in my lifetime Sara. The hospitals make more money and that's what it's about. My husband used to work for a hospital. In the early days everything was fine. Then they started building and needed money. They would send out letters telling doctors how to get more patients in the hospitals. They said stuff like, 'fill those beds'. They had a strategy to hire doctors so they could control them better. Doctors went from independent operators to employees with quotas sort of like sales quotas.

It'll only get worst.