The New York Times (5/4, Abelson, Subscription Publication) reported that a study indicated that “women who had just learned they had breast cancer were more likely to delay getting care if their deductibles were high.” The “review of several years of medical claims exposed a pattern: Women confronting such immediate expenses put off getting diagnostic imaging and biopsies, postponing treatment.” Additionally, “they delayed beginning chemotherapy by an average of seven months, said Dr. J. Frank Wharam…one of the authors of the study, published earlier this year in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.”
Does this sound familiar to anyone? Substitute the words Obesity and breast cancer. The article is a concern because presumably the earlier the patients seek the therapy the better chance they have to not be killed by their disease. Breast cancer or obesity, they’re both killers. The tragedy is that the decision becomes a financial one. You can thank your local and federal politicians for that one, no matter which side of the aisle you favor.
At NJBI we aim to be as transparent as is possible about your care, your costs, and your outcomes. Nothing is cheap. “Value” is getting something which makes a difference for your money, not meeting some arbitrary federal benchmarks in paperwork.
We understand and are on YOUR team.
Call us, We can Help!
Dr Bertha and the NJBI Team
