What does 'managed care' mean?
Managed care has come to have many different definitions. And again not being an advocate of managed care, what we see it as is a new person between the doctor and the patient, someone who is interfering with the relationship. That person never enters into the room, that person does not have a medical degree, but that person is basically trained as an MBA. So you have an MBA interfering between the MD and the patient who needs care. That MBA is going to say, you know what, there's a cheaper way, there's a more cost effective way, and sometimes that's okay. But in many instances you want your medical professional, you want your doctor to determine your care. You do not want someone from Wall Street who's not trained medically to tell you, you don't need care. Managed care MBAs work for these large Fortune 500 companies that have quarterly profit reports that they must make to their shareholders. They and their doctors often are beholding to shareholders, not to the patient who needs the care. And that's where things can get out of balance in many occasions because remember, while you're well and you're paying your premiums, you're a wonderful thing for the health insurance company. But the reason you have health insurance and the reason you purchase it, is for peace of mind. And to get your doctor paid, and to get the best doctor paid when you are ill. So, when you come in with an illness, you are a conflict for that company that wants profits. They don't want to give care.
