The Future of Your Healthcare: BMOs (Bureaucratically Managed Organizations)
        Today’s New York Times has a story about a particular hospital in Elyria, Ohio that has caught the attention of Federal investigators who are looking for cases of Medicare fraud. This particular hospital has a very high proportion of cardiac patients who receive angioplasty to unblock arteries, rather than simply being treated with drugs.
        Although there are no complaints or charges against the hospital, and the cardiac department is considered a “center of excellence” in heart care, the accountants and pencil pushers in the Federal Government have sent law enforcement there to examine their processes. Why? Simply because the frequency of the angioplasty treatment falls outside of the norm for other area hospitals. Nevermind the fact that they may perform it more frequently than other hospitals because those with seriously blocked arteries come to them for the surgery on account of their skill and reputation.
        There is little doubt the representatives from Medicare will insinuate that the doctors are doing the process unnecessarily. From there, in order to avoid either a criminal suit by the government, or a withholding of payment by Medicare, the cardiologists will have to start to treat a higher proportion of patients with drugs, rather than the more aggressive treatment which might actually be the necessary course of action to save the patient's life.
        The bottom line is, patients will receive substandard care, possibly endangering their lives, because of the Federal Government’s role in that health issue.