by Healthcare Blue Book

It is often difficult to understand complex medical terminology – even when it is related to your own care. However, it is important to understand your medical condition and the treatment your doctor recommends.

When you meet with your doctor, remember to always ask:

What is my condition or diagnosis?

What treatment do you recommended?

A procedure or surgery
A laboratory test or diagnostic (such as x-ray or MRI)
A medication
A therapy

Why do you recommend the treatment?

Make sure to write down your diagnosis and recommended treatment. You may not know how to spell the medical terms, so be sure to ask. This will help you when you look for information or need to discuss your health with other doctors. [Top]

What are my other treatment options?

You should always discuss available treatment options with your doctor. In most cases you will have several treatment options to consider that may make a big difference in how much your care will cost. This is true for surgeries, diagnostic tests, and medications.

Your options for treatment will depend on your situation, but there are several questions that you should always discuss with your doctor or care provider:

Do I need a particular treatment right away or are there less intense therapies that can be tried first?

In many instances, there are low risk alternatives that can be tried before choosing intense medical interventions, such as surgery.

For example, there are many different treatments for low back pain, only some of which require surgery. You may want to try rest, medications or physical therapy before having surgery. Your doctor will determine whether or not you are a candidate for a more conservative treatment option based on your symptoms and medical condition.

Are there lifestyle changes that may help my condition?

There are non-medical options for care in some instances. For example, making lifestyle and diet changes may save you from taking medications for high cholesterol or blood pressure. Your doctor can tell you if non-medical options will help your condition.

What alternative approaches are there for my treatment?

In many cases there will be several different medical options for your treatment. For example, if you need surgery, ask if it can be done laproscopically or as an out patient. If you need medications, ask if there are less expensive drugs that will work. You should discuss the benefits and limitations of different options with your doctor before deciding which is best for you. [Top]

How do I choose the right care for my needs and pocketbook?

Make sure you tell your doctor if cost is an important consideration to you. This will allow the doctor to help you make good choices that aren’t too expensive. Doctors know that treatments won’t work if patients can’t afford them.

Things to consider when deciding on different treatment options:

Does it matter where I receive a treatment?

Yes, the costs will be different based upon where you receive treatment. In many cases, the alternative setting is not only less expensive but also higher quality.

Many surgeries can be performed as an out patient at an Ambulatory Surgery Center (least expensive), out patient at a hospital or as an in-patient in the hospital (most expensive).

Another good example is diagnostic tests, such as x-rays or MRIs. Patients may choose to have an MRI at the hospital, the doctor’s office or a free standing MRI clinic. The free standing MRI clinic is usually the best value for the same quality test.

What options do I have to save money on prescription drugs?

The most common options to save money on medications include:

Ask your doctor for generic medications when available.
Ask if there are alternative medications that are less expensive but will work just as well.
Ask if pill splitting would be okay with your particular medication. Pill splitting is a common technique that allows you to buy a higher dose of your medication at lower cost, and then split the pills into smaller pieces in order to get the right dose for your needs. Only use pill splitting if approved by your doctor.
If you have health insurance, try only to use medications that are covered by your insurance plan, if you can (covered medications are often referred to as medications that are "on formulary").

Do I need to see my doctor for all of my care?

Not necessarily. Today there are alternatives to an office visit that provide high quality care at an equal or lower price. Walk-in clinics like MinuteClinic and RediClinic are examples of common retail locations where you may now go to see a specially trained nurse who can offer care for many common conditions, such as colds, eye infections, flu and sore throats.

There are many studies that show higher cost in healthcare does not necessarily mean higher quality or value. There are many clinical and personal preferences that go into each individual’s choice of treatment, but all healthcare consumers have a right make cost-conscious decisions when it comes to their care. [Top]

How to do I locate doctors, facilities and pharmacies?

If you have health insurance and your insurance plan provides a physician network, you should consult your provider directory. You can ask your Human Resources office for a copy of the provider directory or go online to your health insurer’s website and use the doctor locator tool.

If you do not have a health insurance provider network or are interested in finding care outside of your network there are a number of resources you can consult. Most physicians are listed at the American Medical Association (AMA). You can see the AMA Physician Locator Tool. [Top]