4 ms·
> You should be able to get whatever diagnostic test you want, whenever you want. Tests may be less expensive than what we are getting billed, but they aren't
by tasty_freeze 7y ago
> You should be able to get whatever diagnostic test you want, whenever you want.
Tests may be less expensive than what we are getting billed, but they aren't free. There are hypochondriacs who I'm sure would order hundreds of tests a year if allowed. There are many people who have hard to diagnose problems, and out of desperation, would order tests which have no possible bearing on their condition, just in case it finds something.
Let's say that you routinely screen everyone for everything, because why not, it's free. What is the burden of not only performing all those tests, but following up on the flood of false positives? It would probably swamp the healthcare system, allocating resources to the wrong places.