Road Stop -- Stafford Texas

We finished our first night in Stafford,TX, one more to go. The surprising thing is how similar the CT groups were to what we heard last night. As in CT the biggest issue to most was cost. This is not simply the cost of their co-pays or insurance contribution but the belief that costs are totally out of control. Some new experiences came to light last night -- medical tests gone wild. Many reported being referred for elaborate blood work-ups, CAT-scans and the like for seemingly mild maladies. One guy recounted his journey through 3 specialists 2 scans and a final bill of $8,000 and, in the end he was fine.

The contributors to runaway cost once again were identified as hospitals, pharma, and physicians, The perception was once they get hold of you the industry often tries to run up the cost.

Personal experience with their PCP's was varied. One or two had physicians that were very attentive, asked questions, listened, and explained the treatment options. The norm how ever was the 15-minute visit, a glance at the chart, a couple of questions, maybe a prescription and the patient was on their way.

The discussion of evidence based medicine bore mixed results. Most agree that they do not necessarily want the newest drug, but one that is proven effective and safe. There was a belief that doctors prescribed the latest drug being pushed by the drug industry. Some believe that the newest drugs are the best – why else would they be introduced – others thought that often the newest drugs are not well understood by practitioners and may have problems that are yet to be uncovered.

Respondents felt that Pharmaceutical companies push drugs with advertising to foster demand – "we see it advertised then we ask doctor and they sell more ... some doctors inclined to prescribe a drug simply because you asked for it." "Doctor gave me diabetes med I saw advertised – made my head spin – went back to old medicine." Advertising was also seen to increases which can be good and bad. Some respondents wondered how they would even know of new drugs if it wasn't for advertising. The bad thing "pushes drugs for the companies pushes drugs we don’t need."

More to come from Texas.