Diabetes Care: How do Hospitals Profit?

In today's article, the New York Times discusses how the United States Medical System is failing diabetes:

"Insurers, for example, will often refuse to pay $150 for a diabetic to see a podiatrist, who can help prevent foot ailments associated with the disease. Nearly all of them, though, cover amputations, which typically cost more than $30,000."

"Patients have trouble securing a reimbursement for a $75 visit to the nutritionist who counsels them on controlling their diabetes. Insurers do not balk, however, at paying $315 for a single session of dialysis, which treats one of the disease's serious complications."

"Not surprising, as the epidemic of Type 2 diabetes has grown, more than 100 dialysis centers have opened in the city."

Priorities are all wrong. It is the twisted twilight zone of capitalism. In a post I wrote in early December (Nice: England's Clinical Guidelines) I asked whether the USA was more advanced than Europe in diabetes care. Then, I believed it was. Now I know the reverse is true. Europe offers a better standard of care. Not perfect. But better.