Author: Kim Belard

Happy New Year! At the beginning of 2022, we are full of hope and new optimism. Wait a minute; not so much. Not only are we still in a pandemic, but the Omicron variant is by far the most contagious variant. Every day cases are setting new records. Our hospital is full again. Our embattled medical staff-those who have not yet given up-are on the verge of collapse. Two years later, we still do not have enough tests. We are in the worst public health crisis in a century, but our lawmakers are taking power from public health officials, and their angry voters are forcing many of them to resign. We have an effective vaccine, but millions of people still refuse to get it.

The Simpsons – Especially Homer – there is a correct way of saying this: D’oh!

Even if those are not The Simpsons Fans-I don’t know who these people are-may know this show. With more than 700 episodes and 33 seasons, it is the oldest animated series, sitcom and primetime TV series in the United States. The nominal head of the household is the hapless and impulsive Homer, and he is most related to the expression “D’oh”.

Webster definition “Doh” is used as an interjection “used to express a sudden recognition of a stupid mistake or an ironic event change”. One analysis It was discovered that if Homer were a real person, his various healthcare experiences over the years would cost him more than $143 million, which gave him many opportunities to become D’oh.

Is there a seemingly ridiculously high medical bill? Oh! Does your insurance cover certain procedures that you or your family need? Oh! Can’t afford to look down on a doctor, write a prescription or buy insurance? Oh! Have to wait days, weeks, or even months to get a medical appointment? Oh! Since your doctor/health system’s EHR cannot communicate with other doctors/health system’s EHRs, you must carry your health records on a CD or paper with you? Oh!

You have your own story. You have your own setbacks. When you encounter the healthcare system, you may even have your favorite way of expressing (or swearing). But I prefer “D’??oh” because, like Homer Simpson, at the end of the day, we have to take responsibility for our troubles.

there’s still one The Simpsons A clip that might help explain. You can watch the clip below, but in short, Homer’s arm is stuck in the vending machine, trying to get free soda. Emergency rescuers were called, and when an EMS worker realized that the problem was Homer’s refusal to let go of the soda can, they almost had to chop off his arm.

For us, the question is, in our healthcare system, what is the figurative soda can that we still persevere with, even if we risk our health and our lives?

Someone might say that this is our failure to implement universal healthcare as almost all other developed countries have done.Confusingly, even after ACA, we have Nearly 30 million people are not covered, And there is no political will to change this. This is worse than inexplicable-this is terrible- 12 states have not yet expanded Medicaid, As the ACA allows/pays, this will protect its most vulnerable citizens.But even in states with expanded Medicaid, affordable coverage Yes Everyone can use it, but not everyone accepts it.

Others might say that this is how we continue to rely on pay-for-service, and critics believe that this encourages overuse.We tried to charge per person, we are still trying to pay based on value, but still charge by service Continue to dominate. But this does not make our health care system different from most other countries’ systems.

Maybe we behave as if the quality is given: “My doctor is the best”, “Our hospital is suitable for any care”, in fact,, The quality of care varies greatly What care you get and from whom it is very important.”Quality” in healthcare is unexpectedly amorphous; as Justice Porter Stewart’s Faith in Obscenity: When we see it, we think we know it. we do not have. But, again, this is true in every healthcare system.

A strong argument can be made that the stupidity we insist on is to allow so many payers to each negotiate their own rates with healthcare providers. It is well documented that Americans pay far more for healthcare products and services than anywhere else. We don’t have too many doctors, we don’t have too many hospitals, we don’t have too many procedures or tests, we don’t have too many prescriptions. Every time we do this, we just pay too much.As Dan Monroe, author Casino healthcare, I like to say that we don’t need a single payer, we need a single pricing. But then again, we don’t have that single price for anything else-not food, not energy, not water, nor any other necessary products and services.

I think this is our real problem, that is, we have to stick to the soda can anyway. The United States preaches individualism and believes that anyone has the ability to “success” here. We claim to value self-reliance and are sceptical of government help (except social security, medical insurance, or disaster relief, of course).

We know that we should live a healthier life, but most of us don’t. We know that we should listen to the opinions of experts, including our doctors, but as the current pandemic has proven, too many of us do not. We know that healthcare and health insurance are too expensive, but we continue to be dismissive of their costs. Therefore, we have an out-of-control healthcare system-for similar reasons, explosive deficits, crumbling infrastructure, and climate change will soon completely change our survival.

Oh, indeed.

The Simpsons It’s a cartoon. It’s ironic. Homer does not have to pay the $143 million. Homer will not suffer any consequences after the end of the episode. We are not so lucky.We must endure—or die of—the consequences of the stupid mistakes we make or the ironic shift in the events we find ourselves in, especially in healthcare

It is 2022. Let us stop accepting unacceptable things. This is what our New Year’s resolution should be: no more health care D’ohs.

Kim was the former head of e-marketing of the main Blues project and the late editor Tincture, Is now a regular THCB contributor.