Aetna Insurance doesn’t want to cover propofol anesthesia during colonoscopies. They say general sedation works just as well and is cheaper. Doctors says that propofol lets them tell their patients that they won’t experience any pain, which is important to calm their fears and get them into the needed surgery. Coolorectal cancer is the number two cancer killer in the US. Wonder if health insurance executives ever have to pay for their medical costs using their own insurance system.
Docs oppose Aetna plan on colonoscopies [AP] (Thanks to Brandon!)
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Health insurance executives can probably afford to pay for their entire bill with pocket lint.
@leftystrat: “And let’s face it – the gov’t is only going to subcontract it to their old buddies the insurers anyway.”
Hear hear. I think you’re one of the few people I’ve read to actually say this.
Aetna’a getting lousier by the day. In September of last year, my husband had a chest x-ray. He’s been having these x-rays every 3 months for the last 1.5 years, and Aetna always paid their part. This time, though, we received a bill from the doctor for the full amount of the service, with the notation that Aetna didn’t pay because the x-ray wasn’t pre-certified. I called Aetna to see wtf was going on, and the csr told me Aetna changed the terms mid-contract, and starting in June (or so), 2007, these x-rays had to be pre-certified. We received no notice and neither, apparently, did my husband’s doctor, since when I called they were as shocked as we were that Aetna had changed the terms. I’ve appealed, but I’m not optimistic that this is going to go easy. I will fight the sobs tooth and nail, though.
“Wonder if health insurance executives ever have to pay for their medical costs using their own insurance system.”
Actually that’s a very good question. I do wonder how much those execs have to pony up for coverage and how often their claims get denied. Of course they are probably raking in so much cash they don’t even use insurance…
I wonder about a law requiring all corporate Presidents and above to have the lowest level of their own insurance coverage would go over. Economically I know it’s unworkable (whatever the insurance doesn’t cover they’d either have a supplemental plan or pay out of pocket) but there is a nice sense of irony to it.
Coolorectal cancer? Cancer is never cool.
@timsgm1418: I feel your pain on the stent issue. I had a narrowed ureter and had one put in in 2005. It was supposed to come out 30 days later (to reduce infection risks) but my urologist canceled on my 3 times and it didn’t come out until 4 months later. That was four months of pain! You definitely don’t want a shoddy urologist. I have chronic kidney failure, too, and I’ve had some terrible nephrologists.
Hey, folks, I’ve been on both ends of the scope.
Diprivan (Propofol) has been generic for quite some time, and is dirt cheap.
What they’re not paying for is an M.D. to administer meds, watch your O2,BP, rhythm, fluid balance while you have an invasive procedure.
Even if it’s one in 1,000 or 1 in 50,000, stuff happens.
Also, Propofol has a very short half-life and is out of your system in minutes. Excellent safety profile when used properly, and MUCH nicer/safer for the patient.Fentanyl/Valium/Demerol/Versed last much longer, and you feel like crap for hours. Much nicer to have one Doc do the procedure and another who is totally dedicated to your monitoring and safety. The insurance companies also do not pay your doctor to administer the Versed et al (pennies), but if the scope hits the fan, the Doc is liable. Even if you trip & fall leaving & get run over by a truck, ‘cuz you are still officially “sedated”