WASHINGTON, March 26 (UPI) -- If you're wandering adrift in the maze of U.S. healthcare, Laura Casey might just have the way out. Casey, a business manager for a large radiology practice in Austin, Texas, recently wrote "How to Get the Health Care You Want," a consumer guide to everything from signing up for Medicare to choosing the right specialist. United Press International talked to Casey about her mission to put people in charge of their health.
Q: What was the motivation for this book?
A: There were two personal inspirations. One, I lost my mom to brain cancer. I had to navigate the system with her, and (it was difficult) even being a person who works in healthcare. That's just one personal story -- my husband was also chronically ill, so I keep getting pulled back into system for personal reasons.
Add to that my day job and 20 years in a professional career, you come up with a book that is practical and current. I appreciate candidates want to make (the healthcare system better), but if you have brain cancer today, you want to know how it works today. Every day I work with confused consumers who don't understand their health insurance.
Q: How did you crack the system yourself?
A: A lot of it stems from what I see every day and questions from consumers. On the personal side, every friend I have, when they have a health crisis, they call me. I pay attention to what their story is and what their questions are. The bottom line is we're all confused about all of it or parts and pieces of it.
Q: Why is this book needed? Is healthcare that complicated?
A: I believe so. It's complicated on many levels. The consumer adds to the complication because we don't focus on it when we don't think we're going to need it. When we do need it, we go to the doctor (thinking), "They'll take care of me." I have a whole chapter on maintaining your own health record. We see (doctors) put notes in their chart, and (we think) it's all documented. But the day you have a health crisis and a need to gather that information, that is not the day to start calling and figuring out where my stuff is. (Medical records are) often not in one place.
(Another topic is) do any of us know what we buy when we buy health insurance -- do we buy for what's not covered? The third big topic (deals) particularly with primary care -- we should go into it with the intent of formulating a long-term relationship. The doctor my parents took me to was their doctor -- there's a longstanding trust. I've been going to a doctor for 20 years ... the odds of that person sending me to a specialist that's going to share in the same values I have personally is greater than if I go to the doctor of the day and he sends me to his buddy.
It's about matching your personal values -- what works for you doesn't work for me.
Q: What are the key concepts people should take from your book?
A: It's going to depend on where you are -- if you're newly diagnosed with cancer, you'll come at it differently than a new mother. (It's important to) know how to interview a physician; the first chapter sets out with a look in the mirror. What's important to you? A major theme of book is to communicate what you like, what you don't like, what doesn't work for you. My dad's my test case. He sits down with a list (when he visits the doctor). Does he fix the system? No, but he does fix his experience with that doctor.
Q: How do doctors respond to their patients taking initiative?
A: Some of them are going to be defensive. But there are good physicians out there who want to care for people, and will listen or take steps to make it better. We've got this cultural thing where people think they must do what the doctor says. I'm not saying ignore them, but (instead) engage them in a conversation; get your answers so you can participate in the decision-making process with your healthcare.
Q: What about the millions of Americans living without insurance?
A: If you're uninsured or underinsured, I pretty much send you off to your state Medicaid system. All of those Web sites often have an equivalent of a certificate of coverage if you're on Medicaid or CHIP or some sort of interim plan, or looking for health insurance or not part of group.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish with the book?
A: The ultimate goal is (for you) to get into system, get the care you need and the level you believe is adequate and get back to your life. I see so many people get in and go through so many iterations before getting well again. Save your lost lifetime: get in, get what you need, get back to your life, and do all of that with an understanding of what it's going to cost. Bottom line: I want to help everybody.
For more information, visit:
http://howtogetthehealthcareyouwant.com/index.html
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e-mail: [email protected]
