Comment by jl2718

Extra tests... the cost of diagnostics is a tiny fraction of the cost of doctor time, and most patients just go to the doctor to get the test. The doctor is an irellevant gatekeeper 90% of the time. How about we start talking about ‘extra’ doctor visits because patients don’t have access to tests. There are some diagnostics where this gatekeeping is literally causing a public health crisis. ‘Extra tests’ are only an issue because of the untreated disease they reveal, which costs insurers money to treat. This ‘concern’ is all part of their lobby.