I understand the point, but have doubts that the emergency room treatments are a bigger drain than the excess doc visits. Better safe than sorry, I suppose, but really common sense should rule the day. Most docs are just going to send you home anyhow and have you call back when some real condition exists (fever over 104, difficulty breathing, death, erection over 4 hours, etc.).
I guess the point is -- for better or for worse -- I assume that Americans are much more accustomed to visiting the doctor more often, getting x-rays and tests more often, etc. than some of our first-world counterparts. We can't bring costs down to French levels unless we behave like the French (which would put the American deodorant industry under stress -- perhaps a separate topic).
