March 5, 2001. As anyone who watches talk shows knows, Americans feel comfortable talking openly about almost anything. Anything, that is, except money. Discussing how much something costs makes many people feel awkward.
Physicians are no exception.
When patients ask how much a treatment or medication will cost or complain that their deductibles and co-payments are going up, many doctors struggle with the topic. Many of the doctors he has worked with have told him they find it stressful to talk with their patients about the cost of a treatment or medication. Yet that is a question that doctors inevitably will be asked by their patients. Because the topic of cost is likely to come up with at least a few of your patients, here are some tips to make it an easier conversation. The first step is to make sure that most of a patient's questions about money are answered before he or she sees you.