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Communication FUNdamentals
Jan. 24, 2007
IQ Tests for Medical Proceedures?
Fox News reports that insurance companies are now requiring "IQ Tests" be administered in order for patients to "qualify" for weight loss surgery.
'"The term IQ test is misleading," Mary Thompson, spokeswoman for BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee, told FOXNews.com. "It really measures the patient's knowledge of the surgery itself and the eating and lifestyle changes necessary afterward."'
Well then, why call it an "IQ Test"? Sounds pretty DUMB to me! However, it apparently isn't just an unfortunate choice of words...
"BlueCross's own documentation, however, spells out strict guidelines for patients considering the procedure that includes the need for both an IQ screening approved by the American Psychological Association, and additional tests designed, as Thompson indicates, to measure eating behavior or attitudes, along with other evaluative materials from a psychologist or psychiatrist."
If the insurance companies are truly trying to make sure that their patients are well informed, there are other ways to go about it. For starters, I would suggest renaming the questionnaire! If they are trying to get out of paying for a procedure they deem cosmetic, they may institute a process that ensures the procedure is, indeed, necessary for medical reasons. I am sure they already do this for many procedures. I know that my dd's orthodonture wasn't covered under my dental coverage because it was deemed expermental and that a medical proceedure (breaking her jaw) would be necessary to correct her severe underbite that usually causes headaches and medical problems upon aging.
I wonder, though, if the insurance companies aren't trying to institute a new procedure in order to disallow coverage for certain procedures. Are they, in fact, trying to say that the overweight have caused their own ill health and, therefore, they will not pick up the tab? If so, they had better rethink that policy! Once they set a precedent for not covering procedures for which the *patient was the cause*, they will either have to disallow many other procedures or face discrimination charges.
For example, what about a 44 yr old man who falls off his ladder while trying to hang Christmas lights? What about a martial artist who comes in periodically with pulled muscles and tendonitis? What about a 72 year old man who now has lung cancer after having smoked 40 years of his life?
Are they going to administer "IQ Tests" to all of those patients before setting their broken bones or providing chemotherapy?
Your thoughts...
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Comments
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Jan. 25, 2007 - Howdy!
It's been a while since I've stopped by your blog, I hope that everything is well with you. Great post!!! Part of the problem with the IQ testing requirements for the weight loss surgery, (aside from the fact that it's stupid), is the fact that most physicians aren't trained properly (if at ALL) about proper nutrition and therefore cannot advise or recommend dietary changes for their patients. We see this time and time again. Our culture has painted the worst picture (particularly for women), of what an attractive women should look like! Anyway, thanks for dropping by and saying hello.
In His Love, Cathy =o)