Study: Paperwork discourages wellness visits by consumers

It is too easy to say that things do or dont happen because of the special interest that we support. Yes, we are all bothered because of the excessive and redundant paperwork that is asked of us to complete when we see a healthcare provider. If that represents a causal relationship for you, I have to question your as well as your personal & health values research methods. While streamlining the paper process can help, it is not a panacea for improving the health care system.

Over the years that I raised my children I was very diligent about wellness and illness appointments. The only interruptions came about when the insurance company interrupted a relationship with our doctor or hospital. That rarely occurred. So the kids would see consistency in word and action, I was careful to limit disruption in their providers. This helped them to see how our family valued healthcare.

Now that they are grown, and now that the payor/provider feuds are increasing, I admit that I am less diligent about it. Not that my value has changed, and not that I care about the paperwork. The insurance companies continue to erode my choices year after year. I would fill out a mountain of papers if only I could have the physicians I have had for years. (BTW, I have always been employed and had private insurance).

Bottom line, please avoid insulting my intelligence by publishing half baked pseudo research and unsupported correlations as though they are causal. What is going on in health care is confusing enough for those who are ill informed. You serve no purpose by adding to the din.