Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Hot Issues In Healthcare! We all know how important healthcare is for all of us. I still cannot even imagine how difficult it is for many individuals not to have insurance coverage for medical coverage and delay the needed care or not to get it at all. With the upcoming elections, there is a lot of discussion about policies for the future. And I am not making it political: it is about policies of caring for our health, regardless of whether we are on the left or on the right. Here are some crucial proposals and discussions; for the purpose of limited space, I am covering just a small portion of what seems to be getting attention: 1. Lowering the price for prescription drugs: we all know how surrealistic the drug prices are. I have seen many patients who were forced to stop taking medications that helped them only because they could not afford it. However, there were many pharmaceutical companies who responded to the appeal and voluntarily adjusted their prices on some drugs. Insulin at $35.00 sounds much better than $600.00 2. Evaluation of middlemen roles in pharmaceutical business: our healthcare system, including pharmaceutical sales, is a part of free market economy. However, there is a lot of indirect actors whose role can be questioned and whose influence may actually make the prescription drugs industry more expensive and more complicated. 3. Dealing with medical debt: nobody should be selling their home to fund cancer treatment. We are the only country in the world that allows debt for medical treatments, even emergencies, to affect our credit scores. There should be different rules applicable to debt from overspending on credit cards versus not being able to cover emergency room visits. I think the difference is clear. 4. There are a lot of call for young Americans to have more babies. As in all western countries, the younger generation starts a family later than ever before and many people prefer not to have children. At the same time when call for babies are frequent, American healthcare system is very deficient in caring for mothers and babies. 57% of rural hospitals do not have maternity units and do not deliver babies. Florida is #1 with a total of 22 rural hospitals and 20 of them not having labor and delivery department. Illinois is only slightly better with 74 total rural hospitals out of which 55 cannot deliver babies. We are also very poor providing maternity time off from work; most countries treat it like a disability' not only offering longer time, but it is paid time off. So, while I agree we should have more babies, perhaps we should re-consider how to take care of moms and babies first. 5. Our healthcare continues to suffer from a shortage of staff: many healthcare institutions have been taken over by financial vendors like private equity companies for the sole goal of generating more profit. Often, PEs support financially hundreds of financial managers and executives, making millions, at the cost of eliminating clinical staff and direct administrative staff working in the field. As a result, quality of care is diminishing, morale of employees lowers, and patients ultimately suffer. As I said, there are many more points of discussion, which I may bring up in the future. But for now, I would just like for all of us to reflect on what are our priorities in healthcare and how we can influence the future policies. It is a good time to do it. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Hot Issues In Healthcare ! We all know how important healthcare is for all of us . I still cannot even imagine how difficult it is for many individuals not to have insurance coverage for medical coverage and delay the needed care or not to get it at all . With the upcoming elections , there is a lot of discussion about policies for the future . And I am not making it political : it is about policies of caring for our health , regardless of whether we are on the left or on the right . Here are some crucial proposals and discussions ; for the purpose of limited space , I am covering just a small portion of what seems to be getting attention : 1. Lowering the price for prescription drugs : we all know how surrealistic the drug prices are . I have seen many patients who were forced to stop taking medications that helped them only because they could not afford it . However , there were many pharmaceutical companies who responded to the appeal and voluntarily adjusted their prices on some drugs . Insulin at $ 35.00 sounds much better than $ 600.00 2. Evaluation of middlemen roles in pharmaceutical business : our healthcare system , including pharmaceutical sales , is a part of free market economy . However , there is a lot of indirect actors whose role can be questioned and whose influence may actually make the prescription drugs industry more expensive and more complicated . 3. Dealing with medical debt : nobody should be selling their home to fund cancer treatment . We are the only country in the world that allows debt for medical treatments , even emergencies , to affect our credit scores . There should be different rules applicable to debt from overspending on credit cards versus not being able to cover emergency room visits . I think the difference is clear . 4. There are a lot of call for young Americans to have more babies . As in all western countries , the younger generation starts a family later than ever before and many people prefer not to have children . At the same time when call for babies are frequent , American healthcare system is very deficient in caring for mothers and babies . 57 % of rural hospitals do not have maternity units and do not deliver babies . Florida is # 1 with a total of 22 rural hospitals and 20 of them not having labor and delivery department . Illinois is only slightly better with 74 total rural hospitals out of which 55 cannot deliver babies . We are also very poor providing maternity time off from work ; most countries treat it like a disability ' not only offering longer time , but it is paid time off . So , while I agree we should have more babies , perhaps we should re - consider how to take care of moms and babies first . 5. Our healthcare continues to suffer from a shortage of staff : many healthcare institutions have been taken over by financial vendors like private equity companies for the sole goal of generating more profit . Often , PEs support financially hundreds of financial managers and executives , making millions , at the cost of eliminating clinical staff and direct administrative staff working in the field . As a result , quality of care is diminishing , morale of employees lowers , and patients ultimately suffer . As I said , there are many more points of discussion , which I may bring up in the future . But for now , I would just like for all of us to reflect on what are our priorities in healthcare and how we can influence the future policies . It is a good time to do it . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net