health
continued from page 62
“We all deserve better and can work
toward better if we start asking questions
of our providers and representatives in
our states and in Congress.”
Sara
NINA SUBIN
— Elisabeth Rosenthal
My Life.
My Happiness.
My Home.
“I have lived at Regent Street of West Bloomfield for
two years. I chose this community because I had family
living here who just loved it. And I do too! I love going
to Bingo, exercising every day and participating in all the
activities. I am very artistic and the art programs keep
me inspired! The staff is like family. In fact, a former staff
member and I formed such a close friendship, we still
visit and go out for lunch.”
Learn more about
how much better your life can be at
Regent Street of West Bloomfield.
248.671.6106
www.meridiansenior.info/regent-street-ad
4460 Orchard Lake Road . West Bloomfield, MI 48323
64
April 27 • 2017
jn
turned into the series “Paying Till It
Hurts.”
“My assumption had been I would
go back to emergency medicine
after the Clinton legislation passed,”
Rosenthal says. “But it didn’t pass,
and the problems weren’t solved.
So here I am, 25 years later, writing
about similar issues — but worse.
“Then, it was a subset of some
people not being served well, but
now it’s all of us,” she said. “We all
deserve better and can work toward
better if we start asking questions of
our providers and representatives in
our states and in Congress.”
For example, did your representa-
tive get donations from the phar-
maceutical industry? How does that
Elisabeth Rosenthal
impact why Medicare can’t negotiate
drug prices? Is your state insurance
commissioner making sure insurance directories are accurate
so it’s not hard to find a doctor in your network?
Rosenthal suggests finding out who these people are and
whether they are working on our behalf.
Rosenthal learned a lot about individuals’ problems and solu-
tions through responses to her series of articles and audience
remarks after her speaking presentations.
“We would do a story about the high price of colonoscopy,
for instance, and we would ask people if there were other pro-
cedures where they’ve seen costs out of line with the care they
got,” Rosenthal explains. “People shared their stories, and over
time, that snowballed. I started a Facebook group on patient
costs, and people contributed more stories.
“Many of them shared very personal stories because they
were so upset with what was happening to healthcare. They
were stressed by the confusion and financial hits they took.
Even the relatively small bills —and in our system, that can be
hundreds of dollars — are pretty large.
“An American living in Turkey decided not to come back
to the U.S. to have her second child because it would cost so
much. Others shared helpful solutions about how they were
able to bargain a better price on a hospital stay. It’s sad that we
have to do that, but we should all know we can protest bills.”
Rosenthal attributes her commitment to these issues to her
late dad and uncle as role models. The men, twins who both
practiced medicine, are described as exhibiting a sense of car-
ing, a sense of mission and a sense of duty linked to Jewish
teachings.
“One of the most meaningful things that happened to me in
the wake of this book was a call from a cousin who also became
a physician,” Rosenthal says. “My cousin commented that our
fathers would be really proud of us both because they both
trained at Bellevue and had this sense of public service, which I
think is connected to religious values.” •
The Metro Detroit Book and Author Society Luncheon begins at 11 a.m.
(with the opening of the book sale room) Monday, May 15, at the Burton
Manor Banquet and Conference Center, 27777 Schoolcraft, Livonia. After
lunch and talks, authors will sign books. $40. (586) 685-5750.