It concerns me that many HMO critics say the VP received better care for his heart condition than most Americans can expect to receive. And it's especially disconcerting that Bush has already promised to veto a bill (patient's bill or rights) that would help patients get care as good as Cheney's.
It's no new news that high-profile Americans usually get the organ transplants first (I'd love someone to prove to me this is not the case), and are subject to more effective (read: higher-cost) medical treatments than your average Joanne...but everytime I see another case of this preferential treatment in the news, I burn up. We all have loved ones who could use a "implantable cardioverter defibrillator" for heart problems, or a new treatment for diabetes, or cancer, and it's maddening to know that many doctors won't suggest these treatments because the HMOs have discouraged them from doing so by cutting back on their reimbursements. SO, doctors would lose money on patients who require more tests and better treatments, a problem that would be intensified by referrals to specialists, like the cardiologists who recommended Cheney's defibrillator. Yes, I know it's all about money. It's just so sad to see such blatant greed when the choice is a person's life vs. making more money...and the money still comes out on top.
...though I would not be opposed to a brain transplant for the president.