Unfortunately I have heard many times as a cancer patient - “we cant support this because it’s not evidence based.”
Yet, you have to have funding for research to even occur. So we need to incentivize this research to occur, while changing our insurance model to support primary care/prevention. I truly believe we have a place in our society for both western and eastern medicine models.
It’s hard for me to pay for OMT, Physical therapists that employ alternative methods, massage therapists and a holistic doctor to help me on my path to recovery after three major cancer removal surgery, three years of chemo, and PTSD. When I ask about modalities im only offered more pills. Then with these pills pharmaceutical companies make money while the doctors do for prescribing
To some degree it is government. When research is primarily funded my pharmaceutical companies, then if it passes animal trials, then human trials, then finally approved by the FDA - (all occuring) while simultaneously knowing MDs of all sorts wont recommend anything that cant be evidence based, due to concern for legal implications…you start to see its actually a government problem at its core.
How about allowing or encouraging health insurance companies to compete across state lines? Also, far more discrimination should be allowed in group policies. I take care of my health and should not have to pay to subsidize people who make poor choices.
I agree, no one should have to pay for others poor choices. However, that’s not really the point im trying to lean on.
When you compare the numbers as a whole - you and I are paying more for people to dive into tertiary care models such as invasive surgery, procedures, and pharmaceuticals. That means the government is paying that out, and its only increasing as more and more people develop comorbidities that need management.
Primary care is about prevention and education in a holistic model. For example, instead of your yearly doctor visit that is a review of medicine…you are seeing your holistic doctor for lifestyle recommendations to improve your concerns or to give you education. Also when you incentivize government to research and back alternative modalities that improve a patients quality of life, competition should incentivize across the board. There should be a competitive process for insurance companies. Non-bid awards are always sketch.
What do you mean by far more discrimination in group policies? Are you talking about the insurance that is provided via our employers?
I take care of myself too - and its frustrating because a large majority of depressed people have a “screw it all/lazy mentality.” While I agree on that, I want to make sure it was clear its the fact that open discussion about primary prevention/holistic models arent even open for discussion or encouraged. They’re cheaper.
Sorry to round around again, I can be long winded…and I can confuse. I’m sorry OptimisticFred.
The doctors are restricted on things they can discuss with their patients. This needs to change. Every doctor should have basic knowledge of dietary approaches, minerals and vitamins. Why don’t they discuss parasites? Why is Chemotherapy the first choice and not always best choice? Simple suggestions of teas to drink or honey could be used instead of big pharma. We could benefit from retraining doctors on the basic good health habits. It will take educating the public on the harm of their pills.
I agree with you . Doctors are not taught about holistic approaches to disease, let alone root cause of disease. Just big more big pharma. I’m going through an appendix cancer diagnosis, and no doctor will discuss alternative medicines, only chemo…
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Butyoucancallme.mo
(Nurse/Patient/Advocate, but you can call me, Mo!)
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Problem with that is, non-profits are not really “non-profit.” Non-profits just restructure their profits into paying higher salaries to thier CEOs, executive administrators, and the board members. There should however, be caps on the costs charged by the hospitals, providers, and ancillary facilities, and limits on the heathcare exclusions placed by the insurance companies.
Well, this expands beyond comorbidities, not just cancer. Cancer is a hard one, if you first can mitigate risk with clearing out environment of carcinogens and improving our water/food/sanitation/farming pesticides - comorbidities should go down to include cancer. Ive met plenty of people who chose natural methods to cancer, who aren’t here today.
This is why im rooting for RFKjr with Trump. I believe he can fix this. From the insurance structuring, to the policy, to incentivizing research on primary prevention structuring (curbing the americans that get to the point of combordities). We can not only improve our citizens lives, but decrease the amount of money our tax money is put to healthcare.
Many on the topics on this sight start running into the other govt agencies that create a barrier to changing the policy.
Maybe this would be a good place for Elon’s DOGE to start.
The people should have the choice in their health care, and I hate to say it but after the “covid” stuff doctors even more than before don’t listen to their patients.
There are holistic medicine practitioners, but you have to travel most of the time to see them.
Agreed. Not just that though, when insurance doesnt cover these doctors patients’ are less motivated to go. I think somewhere in these agencies they understand human nature enough where if they provide coverage for a certain comorbidity the patient will likely do that versus something that isnt covered. Also, without research of something, insurance wont cover.
Yes, but your comment brings up another part of the problem. Lobbyist push for medicines, they also give incentives to the doctors and insurance companies to sell their drugs. You have to take these away so insurance covers all medicines the same almost.
Absolutely. Not even completely sure anymore what influenced the unnatural need for lobbyist in our government. They need to respectfully get the F outta here.
I think this heavily leans into education of the doctors to understand and risk stragize options while accurately convey this to a patient…the unfortunate truth is most cancers need chemotherapy to kill them. I’ve had friends that chose alternative therapies and arent here to speak like I am. So, ensuring a patient understands the success ratios of different modalities is very important.
Doctors will never legally say something without evidence backing due to the legal ramifications they often experience. They will be hesitant. Thats why if the government restructures while incentivizes more research to these alternative modalities that are of a primary prevention, insurance coverage begins, and doctors’ start recommending.
The problem we often experience today for example a patient with heart disease who has a catheterization is told when the doctor finishes if their artery is less than 50% occluded to take a statin and do life style modification (it could be slightly different than 50%). One, thats what is recommended by policy and research (doctor gets paid for prescribing statin). Two, they dont explain in depth necessary lifestyle modification beyond the nurse doing so before patient discharge. Then they likely just follow with that doctor yearly to review medicine and do some vitals.
If that patient could get coverage for dietary advice/at home/education and cook with patient to assist them to learn. Simultaneously, while insurance paid for a gym membership or physical therapist appointments with patient to learn how to exercise your heart safely with cardiac disease. We’d then likely have more patient compliance.
we need a way to get nutritionists covered. If we want to get healthy but our stomachs can’t handle certain food or even healthier food because of years of bad toxins, we need to be able to afford the very expensive costs of professionals who guide us through the change of diet. It just doesn’t work without some help. All doctors want to do is give you another pill, and that is all that is covered. Our local naturopaths charge 500 for one appointment just to walk in the door
Obamacare was an unconstitutional outrage. Article 1 Section 8 of the US Constitution gives no power to the government to regulate medical insurance such that it forces people to buy it or providers to cover certain medical approaches. The Interstate Commerce Clause enables it to make commerce smooth (i.e. regular). But you don’t need the federal government to do what you’re suggesting. If there’s market demand for ‘holistic approaches to medicine,’ companies will supply it.
So; im going to need to read article 1 section 8. If it gives no constitutional power, is it because his obamacare forced power of the government to mandate/force insurance on citizens?
. Doctors are not taught about holistic approaches to disease, let alone root cause of disease. Just big more big pharma. I’m going through an appendix cancer diagnosis, and no doctor will discuss alternative medicines, only chemo… 
