CT scan recommendations in (western) Buffalo area

[billtebbutt]

Sorry, a little TMI here. We have a great health care system in Canada, unless you need a scan of most sorts - anything not run-of-the-mill and you are waiting for months as there is no private pay.

Well, I really need a CT sinus scan, and don't really want to wait until my appointment on January 27! It isn't life threatening or anything, but it is 24/7 pain and 8-9 teeth ringing like a tuning fork. I am happy to pay out of my pocket. Any chance any of you folks can recommend a clinic? Easiest crossing from Toronto is probably Fort Erie for me, but I can be pretty flexible.

Thanks in advance
bt

[E1pix]

No referrals, just sending Good Vibes, Bud…

[jrh3]

You might try an oral surgeon, Canada or US. Some general dentists and periodontists have CT machines if they are placing implants.
OS would be more likely to interpret the image.

[E1pix]

Bill, one thing I’d recommend before even leaving your house is to make sure *you can even leave* WITH your scans.

I’d strongly suggest this, and getting the scans on film that is calibrated to their scans, AND getting TWO discs of the files in case one disc is bad. I’d go straight to the company doing it, if coming from any referral you’ll spend way more to line the pockets of whomever refers you — effectively, for them doing nothing.

There is a massive, monopolized, vile game here in this and nearly any medical regard. A friend has a lung issue that could well prove threatening, had scans done in Wisconsin on a summer visit, wanted them forwarded to the physician he’s been working with in New Mexico just to ask if things have worsened, and his doctor refused to even glance at them until she can see him — meaning, BILL HIM — seven months after the fact.

If I were you — honestly — I’d pay whatever it took to do this in Canada, and not waste a single brain cell screwing around with our tragic and barbaric system. But it sounds like you can’t wait, so wish you luck no matter what.

[billtebbutt]

Thanks Eric - I appreciate that info.

(Warning - long and boring)


There are so many *odd* things about how medical systems have evolved/how they work. And as I say, we have a truly great system here in Canada, one that I have had to use on occasion to excess. But there's some really weird sh!t.......

For example, in Ontario where I live, you no longer own your own body tissue once extracted from you. In 2011 I jaundiced suddenly for no apparent reason. It took weeks and weeks of working the system (thank you Steve and Tony, you know who you are) to get me in to the supposedly best hepatologist in the province (according to her). She performed a biopsy on my liver but before the results were tabulated she left for Taiwan on a speaking engagement FOR SIX WEEKS. No matter, because she had already told me before leaving that I needed a liver transplant and had to find a way to get on a waiting list - she didn't need the biopsy to confirm what she already "knew". She was a genius, and all.....

I tried and tried for weeks to get another hepatologist at the hospital to look at the biopsy results, to no avail - I was told to wait. Well, you know, when you think you might die you do some crazy stuff, so I gathered up all my medical files and filled in the self admission online for the Mayo Clinic. In less than 12 hours, they had called an internal meeting of relevant specialists, analyzed my submission, and were 100% certain I did not need a transplant. I was in the Mayo the next day for a week.

The Mayo Clinic's first job was to get the biopsy (the actual tissue) flown from the Toronto hospital to Minnesota. The Toronto hospital steadfastly refused on the basis that it was their property NOT MINE, and that they were under no circumstances going to help the Mayo Clinic save a few days time. We even threatened to "get legal", to no avail.

How incredibly stupid is that?????

As it turned out, I had suffered an idiosyncratic drug reaction between three prescription drugs I had recently been put on (according to the FDA who keeps stats on these things, there was about a 1 in 6.2 million chance of that reaction occurring) for an arthritic condition that it turns out I did not have. But the rheumatologist was 90% certain I did, and gave me the option of waiting 90 days for a confirmatory MRI or starting on meds immediately - of course I started the meds!

Which is a long and winding story about why I hate waiting months for a scan

Keep well folks,
bt

[problemchild]

FYI Bill.

From what I can decipher, my last CT scan cost $2700 with a $600 followup. That was before the insurance company adjustment and my $30 copay. That was done at Roswell. The insurance company seems to adjust it down to 1/3-40%. Last year, I had an MRI done that was "out of network" and started off at $16K and ended up costing me $5K.

As frustrated as you may be with the Canadian system, I cannot imagine you want to start paying US fees for non-urgent services, especially without an adjuster process. As all my stuff is done through my insurance at Roswell, I have no other reference or connections. I expect any transaction will be multiples of $K USD.

Perhaps you can buy into a US insurance plan but that will be more than a $k per month and will still have a copay (deductible).

[E1pix]

It’s become pretty clear to me that a patient’s 20% pay portion is the actual value of service.

The rest covers non-pays, but is mostly to build insurance wealth. Skyscrapers are expensive.

I read an article last week, where a US Doctor was saying they had to limit testing if a patient has a Medicare “Advantage” plan. One would think that’s a financial incentive to do more tests, right, even if not necessary?

But the article said once a private insurance company is in bed with Medicare, the Doctors presume it’ll be a fight to get reimbursed, and often skip “low-odds” procedures that may have otherwise facilitated a diagnosis and treatment — if not save a life.

Doctors often get a bad rap when actually they’re powerless to simply run their practice. And now we have a shortage of doctors, Gee Whiz, I wonder why?

We’re canceling our Advantage plan. We don’t finance criminal enterprises. I’ll bet we’ve gotten a hundred calls from United Healthcare asking to speak with my disabled wife, each time I almost beg them to stop and repeat “My wife has aphasia and can’t speak to you,” and they keep calling.

For a patient who’s completely incapacitated and even worse than my wife, just imagine the extra stress this causes, it’s nothing short of harassment and elder abuse.

Then again, I’ve yet to see many examples where the cartel has any incentive to cure anyone.

[RSS]

You might want to look outward into the more rural areas of Ont to see if there is something within driving distance. I live in a somewhat rural community in Alberta and scan appointments are fairly easy to get compared to the big cities that are only 2hrs away.

[romoman]

You might want to look outward into the more rural areas of Ont to see if there is something within driving distance. I live in a somewhat rural community in Alberta and scan appointments are fairly easy to get compared to the big cities that are only 2hrs away.

One big difference is the quality of the machine and resolution in the scans. Now, I don't know anything about CT scans, but the difference in an MRI done in Boston at MGH versus one done an hour away in NH is night and day. I drive an hour to get an x ray (they are that much better!)

[TimH]

I read an article last week, where a US Doctor was saying they had to limit testing if a patient has a Medicare “Advantage” plan. One would think that’s a financial incentive to do more tests, right, even if not necessary?

The "Advantage" in Medicare Advantage is that the government pays the insurer a fixed amount (adjusted for a few factors) per enrolled patient, and the company gets to keep whatever they don't spend. The incentive is therefore to do as little as possible. In theory, preventive care actually reduces total costs, but that's in theory.

[E1pix]

Exactly, Tim, Thanks.

Sad we see preventative care as “tests when we’re sick” instead of “preventing getting sick” — which we did all along.

That strategy worked flawlessly for nearly 30 years, until the one time we relied on lifesaving personnel whose inactions disabled my wife forever.

True recovery can be a myth, often told to alleviate public fear since most can’t handle the truth.

[Dave Harmison]

Three years ago I was diagnosed with appendix cancer. About a 3 in a million deal, so rare. Was diagnosed at U of Michigan but had horrible time getting biopsy sent to Mayo, which has an expert in this cancer. FINALLY found The Guy, just a guy doing his job, that could make that happen.
Before you think “appendix, hell, you don’t need that”, it’s almost always caught at stage 4. 12 hour surgery, loss of several organs, 10 days recovery and three years I’m what they label “no evidence of disease”.
Spent the last three days in hospital with raging infection. Probably made severe by loss of spleen during surgery.
Anyhow, those of us with serious health issues should stay away from dis-Advantage plans. They are HMO’s that will do anything to keep you in network instead of getting the care you need. They’d rather see you die than cost them money. That is their business after all.

[CARSHouston]

I did notice when you stated this " you are waiting for months as there is no private pay" which to me means in Canada, you can't go outside their system and pay to get something done.
It has been my experience that here in the US, you can always pay to get it done.
You should try and find more than one place and call them all, stating you are paying cash for the procedure and need a cash price, no insurance.
You might be amazed at the prices you get when you tell them you're a cash customer and they don't have to screw with the insurance.
Good luck

[TimH]

You might be amazed at the prices you get when you tell them you're a cash customer and they don't have to screw with the insurance.