For a serious medical condition, surgery is often lifesaving, but a new report finds doctors performed tens of thousands of unnecessary procedures in 2020. So, Consumer Reports says there are two important questions to ask your doctor to be sure you’re getting the care you really need.
During the first ten months of the COVID-19 pandemic, even when most cities were on lockdown, Medicare was billed for over 100,000 overused or unnecessary surgeries or procedures according to the non-profit Lown Institute.
That includes more than 45,000 stents for coronary heart disease, 16,000 vertebroplasties for osteoporosis and 14,000 hysterectomies for benign disease.
“In some instances, these are life-saving procedures. However, in a number of cases, a patient’s condition could also be well managed with a less invasive treatment that was just as effective,” said Consumer Reports.
Take the more than 13,000 unnecessary spinal fusions the study found. While the procedure can be successful, experts say for moderate to mild back pain it’s often no more effective than nonsurgical treatments like physical therapy.
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So, if your doctor recommends a surgical procedure, have an open and honest talk about the benefits and risks. If you’re not sure where to begin, Consumer Reports says asks two easy questions to get the conversation with your doctor started:
The first question to ask the doctor: “If your parent or child had this condition, would you recommend this procedure?”
“This forces your doctor to sort of take a moment and pause. It also helps them connect to what you’re experiencing as a patient,” said Umansky.
The second question to ask the doctor: “What alternatives are there?”
“You want to know, for instance, if there are other appropriate options that may be less
invasive, have fewer potential side effects, or require less healing time,” Umansky said.
And before any major procedure, seriously consider a second opinion. Your doctor should welcome other colleagues’ ideas and input. And if they don’t, you might want to look for a new physician.
A follow-up question you will want to ask: “How much will this cost me?”
Because of the recent No Surprises Act, healthcare providers are now required to give you an easy-to-understand estimate explaining what you’ll be charged if you don’t have insurance or choose not to use it.