Dr. Powell performed a very intricate and long (5 hour) surgery on my husband's colon, and he saved his life. Notice the amount of 5-star ratings he has received from actual patients who have experience with this gentle spirited, empathic physician.
As to Damien, who commented that he was offended by the "tea party" atmosphere, I would like to tell you that not all doctors are equally proficient in their abilities when they set you on the operating table, I'd bet politics wouldn't matter a wit to you if you needed the best surgeon in L.A.
Dr. Powell is able to sustain a private practice, with the freedom to air his and the staff's opinions, because he, and professionals like him, pay for the right to do so. Today's physicians are not the physicians of the last century (high rollers with sports cars, rental properties, and a summer rental in the Hamptons). No joke, Damien, that describes my electrician and plumber, who own 6 houses between them and take numerous vacations. The enormous cuts to physician re-imbursement by insurance companies (to pay for the Affordable care Act) have hit doctors' incomes hard. They struggle with their kids' college tuitions like the rest of the middle class, only they rarely have a "time off" for fun and games. Re. the bill you received, which I imagine you will not have to fully pay, I would ask: "If you were educated for 15 grueling years in your field, then practiced your trade for 30 more years, would you think $300-500. for an examination and consultation by a highly trained professional would be fair? (insurers NEVER pay the provider the amount billed.) If you'd been with a lawyer in L.A., your cost would have been $500+ per hour with no reimbursement.
If you did not like being billed, you should have rested at home with your hernia, and avoided all lifting. The public has little knowledge of the costs today's physician carries (including thousands in school debt) in the way of malpractice insurance and legal fees( good doctors have to pay those occasionally to defend themselves from money chasers who erroneously sue). You might not be familiar with the incredulous rents in L.A., where commercial tenants are forced to pay city tax on top of their high rent. I know, as I retired my own 20 year practice in the field of psychology. The upkeep of the physical space, technical upgrades to software, service calls from maintenance people, parking fees, staff salaries and health insurance,all feed into the equation.
Lastly, Dr. Powell's office staff called about at your request for hospital pricing? Their office time spent at your request was paid for by the very man you criticize. Finding "the best hospital deal for you" in town strikes me as something which you could have easily performed yourself by calling our local hospitals' business offices. Entitlement is not a patient right.
Had you been shopping for a new Honda, you would have been obligated to do your own detective work on pricing. Why assume a potential provider should perform this duty for you? This is what conservatives mean when they say we have become a "nanny state.' Point made. read more
