[Intro]
[Intro Theme – Motor]
Here in the US, getting access to medical care can be very expensive and confusing. In this episode we hope to help you navigate and understand access to our health system. Then hear a positive view on all the cancer research going on. Then after the act break, we’ll come back with a look at the diagnosis part of treatment.
[Pod Lick]
Hi. I’m Tim Rose and this is the Tim Tunes Podcast. This is Part three of the podcast version of my musical “The Waiting Room”. If you haven’t listened to parts one and two, I highly suggest that you do so before listening to this episode. Otherwise, you may be confused as to what is going on. In this episode we’ll listen to three scenes and their accompanying songs – the first scene is a discussion on how medical services are provided in the US, the next scene is an uplifting anthem to the hope for a cure, and after a short intermission, we’ll take a look at the run-around that some patients endure during their diagnosis.
[Pod Lick – Big D]
[About This Part]
This episode contains three of my favorite songs from the show.
The first “How A Flaw Becomes A Bill” was inspired by a Schoolhouse Rock song called “How A Bill Becomes A Law”. Other than the title and the style of the song, the rest is completely original. I have created an entirely different melody, lyrics and chord structure. I consider it more of an homage as opposed to a parody. The actors act out the scene as it is described by the singers in this song. Various props and costume pieces magically appear and disappear as necessary. I’m not choreographing or anything but I think the “round and around” part is begging for movement.
The second song, Someday Soon, ends the first act. I wanted an anthem for the show. Something that would fit in the show and would also work outside of the show as an anthem to promote support for cancer research. Also, I wanted to end the act with something uplifting and energetic. I hope this fits the bill.
The last song opens Act II. I needed something upbeat to get the audience back into the show. So I decided to put the song “Second Opinion” here. I poke fun at doctors here and, frankly, I’ve had my reservations about this number. But, based on the feedback I’ve gotten from people who have heard the song or at least have heard the concept of this song, they’ve given it their blessing.
You see that’s the other thing, this is the first complete recording of this song, ever. Although I wrote and conceived the song around 2012, I never recorded it. Originally, I conceived the song as an acapella piece. A kind of a barbershop quartet number. I have many failed attempts to record this that always fell flat on their face. Recently, I decided to add a small combo to support the singers and use acapella in a limited fashion, in the beginning of the song and at the bridge.
There are multiple tempo changes throughout and even a kick line. See if you can spot it. This song has been my great white whale. I hope you enjoy it.
[Pod Lick]
Previously in The Waiting Room…
Our two protagonists Rene and Kelsey have seen several people deal with their conditions in different ways. In our last episode we met Max who was angry. Then, Pat gave us a little lesson on how to deal with the on-the-job stress of working in a clinic. Finally, Bailey, one of our patients in a trial, asks God to intervene in the song Miracle.
When we last left our cast, Kelsey had just picked up the phone and was speaking with a client.
[Podlick]
[Act I - Scene 7 – How A Flaw Becomes A Bill]
KELSEY: (On phone talking to a patient, mystified and confused) Ok. Let me see if I got this straight. So, you say your FSA won’t cover you because you don’t have a bill and you can’t get a bill because of HIPPA. Please hold on a second. (Looks to an amused RENE with a deer in the headlights look of panic!)
RENE: (picks up phone or takes phone from KELSEY) Hello? Yes. Uhn-hun. You need to go to your insurance providers website, login and download your EOB. What? Oh, that’s the Explanation of Benefits. Once you’ve downloaded the EOB you simply upload it into your FSA claim on the FSA provider website. Got it? Ok. B-bye. (hangs up)
KELSEY: Thank you so much.
RENE: For what? They’ll be calling back before too long.
KELSEY: Why do you say that?
RENE: I got the distinct impression that they don’t even have a computer.
KELSEY: Wow! I had no idea there was so much detailed paperwork involved.
RENE: You don’t know the half of it. Eddie, over here, had a terrible time getting his insurance company to pay for treatment. (calls out to one of the patients in the waiting room) Hey, Eddie why don’t you tell Kelsey about your insurance company experience?
EDDIE: I’ll do better than that!
(EDDIE coopts other patients to join in and sing and act out How a Flaw Becomes a Bill)
G7 C VERSE 1
Let’s say you’re sitting at home takin’ a break
G
But something doesn’t feel quite right
So you go to the Doctor and they give you look
C C7
Then you follow that Doctor’s advice
F Fm
Now the Doc sends a bill to the insurance company
C A7
Based upon the services rendered
D7
And the insurance company pays the Doc
G7
And the flow of services is unhindered
C A CHORUS 1
But that’s not how a flaw becomes a bill, oh no!
D7 G7 C
That’s not how a flaw becomes a bill
C VERSE 2
When the insurance company gets your bill
G
It’s reviewed by their own physicians
To make sure that you’re covered and the doc did ok
C C7
And that there’s no fraud suspicions
F Fm
But almost always when the payment comes
C A7
You find that you’ve taken a whacking
D7
So you call your insurance company to complain
G7
Usually with your Doctor’s backing
C A CHORUS 2
To say that’s not how a flaw becomes a bill, oh no!
D7 G7 C
That’s not how a flaw becomes a bill
F C BRIDGE 1
Then you go round and around and around and around and around
D7 G7
And you go round and around and around and around
C A7
Until both finally understand and come to agree
D7 G7
Or maybe you just give up and pay that awful fee
C A CHORUS 3
And that’s how a flaw becomes a bill, oh yeah!
D7 G7 C
That’s how a flaw becomes a bill
F C BRIDGE 2
Then you go round and around and around and around and around
D7 G7
And you go round and around and around and around
C A7
For all of my complainin’, I just want to say
D7 G7
I’m just maintainin’, there has to be a better way
C A CHORUS 4 & ENDING
Cause that’s how a flaw becomes a bill, oh yeah!
D7 G7 C
That’s how a flaw becomes a bill
C A
Yeah, that’s how a flaw becomes a bill, unh-hun!
D7 G7 C7
That’s how a flaw becomes a bill, oh yeah!
RENE: Thank you, Eddie.
EDDIE: No problem
RENE: So, whaddaya think?
KELSEY: My head is spinning. It seems unnecessarily complicated and frustrating.
[Act I - Scene 8 - Someday Soon]
(Angelo enters speaking with BAILEY)
ANGELO: Thanks for taking part in the study. I’ll see you again in three months. (Crosses to coffee)
BAILEY: Thank you, Doctor.
(BAILEY crosses to desk and addresses RENE)
BAILEY: (excitedly) Well, I was right. I won’t be on the trial anymore.
RENE: You don’t seem too unhappy about it.
BAILEY: I’m not. According to the doc I’m in remission. My last test was clear.
RENE: That’s great news, Bailey. Can I share it with the staff and regulars?
BAILEY: Sure, why not?
RENE: Hey, Pat, Kelsey, Kai, Eddie - c’mere a second. (They gather round and turn to Bailey) Bailey here just found out that he/she/their in remission!
PAT: That’s wonderful!
KELSEY: Congratulations!
KAI: Great news!
BAILEY: Well, I owe it all to you guys and this place. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t found you. Thank you.
Eddie, thank you for your help navigating my insurance company.
EDDIE: My pleasure, Bailey.
BAILEY: And thank you, Kai, for supporting the program. I know they would not have been able to do the program without the fundraising you do.
KAI: It’s an honor to be able to help.
BAILEY: Doctor Angelo, what can I say? Without your help I probably wouldn’t be here at all…
ANGELO: That’s probably an exaggeration, but you are most certainly welcome. Happy to do what I can.
BAILEY: And finally, Rene. You have no idea what it means to have someone who understands what you are going through at the front desk. I wish you well on your journey.
KELSEY: (to RENE) What journey? I though you said you weren’t go…
RENE: (quickly shushing KELSEY) Shhh! (to BAILEY) I’ll go ahead and set you up for another appointment in three months.
BAILEY: Thanks, everyone. Take care. (BAILEY exits)
(DOCTOR ANGELO crosses to RENE)
ANGELO: Well, Rene. And how is my favorite patient doing today? (KELSEY can’t help but overhear this.)
RENE: Gee, thanks Doc. Could you say it a little louder? I’m not sure the patients in the exam rooms heard you.
ANGELO: Oh, sorry!
RENE: Doctor Angelo! Please say hi to the newest addition to our team? Doctor Angelo, this is Kelsey. Kelsey, Doctor Angelo.
ANGELO: Nice to meet you.
KELSEY: Pleased to meet you.
RENE: (a little star struck, cuts in as ANGELO tries to speak) Doctor Angelo is the one who ran Bailey’s trial. The Doc here is working on some really cutting-edge research and trials and stuff. We’ve seen some very positive results from the studies. It’s really awesome…
ANGELO: Well thanks, Rene. I wish we could help everybody. Someday, I think we will…
KAI: (cutting in) Excuse me Doctor Angelo may I speak to you for a moment?
ANGELO: Of course Kai. What can I do for you?
(ANGELO crosses to KAI)
KELSEY: Wow! Doctor ANGELO sure has a lot of energy.
RENE: When you’re doing what you love, I guess it shows through. (checking appointments)
(the focus shifts to ANGELO and KAI)
KAI: I just wanted to remind you that we’re meeting with the Smithbrook Foundation this evening at 7. Please try not to be late. Smithbrook could turn out to be our largest donor to date.
ANGELO: Don’t worry. I’ll be there. These trials can be very expensive. We can always use the money.
KAI: You don’t have to tell me!
ANGELO: By the way, how is Sam doing?
KAI: Not good, I’m afraid. He’s/she’s/they’ve been going in and out of consciousness. But it seems every time I think the end is near Sam rallies back, or the clinic comes up with some new treatment and we weather the storm. Did you know that it just so happens that today is the 15th anniversary of his/her/their first cancer diagnosis?
ANGELO: Wow, 15 years! How remarkable. That was even before I came to work here. (pause) Kai, I know this is hard to think about but maybe you should start to prepare yourself. Sam is not doing well and, frankly, we’ve exhausted our treatment options. I would seriously consider tying up loose ends. Soon.
KAI: I know. It’s just that, well, Sam always seems to snap out of it…
ANGELO: I doubt that will happen this time…
(ANGELO sings Someday Soon)
In C - Capo on 3rd fret play as written
D E7 A D A D INTRO
A D A D VERSE 1
I dream of a day not so far away
A D E7
When the battle is done and the race is won
A D C#7 F#m
We all look to that day each in our own way
D E A Asus6 A
And hope that it comes quickly for everyone
A D A D CHORUS 1
Someday soon, someday soon, someday !soo-oo-oon
A D E
We’ll sing a different tune someday soon
A D C#7 F#m
One by one our foes will fall, then we’ll all stand tall
D E A Asus6 A
Shoulder to shoulder someday soon
A D A D VERSE 2
But until that day breaks we’ll do everything it takes
A D E
We’ll sing out our songs as the work keeps moving on
A D C#7 F#m
Oh the joyful noise we’ll make will make the whole world shake
D E A Asus6 A
We can hardly wait, it won’t be long
A D A D CHORUS 2
Someday soon, someday soon, someday soo-oo-oon
A D E
We’ll sing a different tune someday soon
A D C#7 F#m
One by one our foes will fall, then we’ll all stand tall
D E A Asus6 A
Shoulder to shoulder someday soon
A D A D VERSE 3
Why don’t you join us now? Because some way, somehow
A D E
We’ll see this journey, friend, through to the end
A D C#7 F#m
So stand up now and sing and feel the joy we bring
D E A Asus6 A
In the power of the message that we sing
A D A D CHORUS 3 & ENDING
Someday soon, someday soon, someday soo-oo-oon
A D E
We’ll sing a different tune someday soon
A D C#7 F#m
One by one our foes will fall, then we’ll all stand tall
D E A Asus6 A
Shoulder to shoulder someday soon
D E
Shoulder to shoulder
A D A D A
Someday soon, someday soon, someday soon
(Blackout: End of Act I)
[Intermission Comment]
Before we head back to our show I just wanted to mention that now may be a good time to consider making a donation to Voices of Hope Boston at www.vohboston.org.
And now on with the show.
[Act II – Scene 1 – Second Opinion]
(Patients who will act as PRIMARY, BOLAS, CUTTER, and DYER are waiting in line at the desk listening to the conversation at the top of the act. PRIMARY is agitated and is in conversation with RENE and KELSEY.)
PRIMARY: I just don’t understand why it has to be so difficult. Can’t they just get together and figure out what is going on with me.
KELSEY: I’m sorry, I don’t understand…
RENE: Ah, my little Padwan, so you think you’ve mastered this job.
KELSEY: I don’t know about that…
RENE: There’s a lot more to it than DABDA.
KELSEY: How do you mean?
CUTTER: For instance, there’s the run around from doctor to doctor…
KELSEY: I guess two heads are better than one.
BOLAS: And then trying to make sense of what’s really going on.
KELSEY: What do you mean?
DYER: Let’s just say that, sometimes, communication between the doctors could be a little better.
(Four patients scurry about and don lab coats, collect props and then assemble around KELSEY to perform Second Opinion…)
C F PRIMARY VERSE
As your primary care physician I have taken many tests
G C C7
To diagnose your condition and decide what is the best
F Fm C Gdim
Treatment to relieve you of your current state
D7 G G7
And fix the pain that ails you and weighs heavy on your pate
F Fm C Gdim
Based on my vast experience, after many seconds of review
D7 G G7
I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t have a clue
C F CHORUS 1
You need a second opinion that is your best bet
G G7 C Walk up to
So let’s toss the ball over the wall and see what we will get
C F Cdim
To treat this thing that’s in ya and find the cause of your dilemma
C A D G C
We need the expertise on this disease that is troubling you
C F BOLUS VERSE
Hello, I’m Dr. Bolus and oncology’s my game
G C C7
When it comes to cancer, I’ve got the answer, or at least I’ve got the name
F Fm C Gdim
I find your case intrigues me, so many things unknown
D7 G G7
Like what sort of fruit, would best suit, the shape of what you’ve grown
F Fm C Gdim
We can’t tell, why you swell without another test or two
D7 G G7
Indication and determination will be best served if you
C F CHORUS 2
Would get a second opinion that is your best bet
G G7 C Walk up to
So let’s toss the ball over the wall and see what we will get
C F Cdim
To treat this thing that’s in ya and find the cause of your dilemma
C A D G C
We need the expertise on this disease that is troubling you
C F CUTTER VERSE
My name is Dr. Cutter and I’m sure you should agree
G C C7
You’re best hope, ‘cause you’re no dope, was coming to see me!
F Fm C Gdim
Surgery is indicated so I’ll try to be concise
D7 G G7
Before I incise you, to peek inside you, with my little knife
F Fm C Gdim
We’ll send your parts off to the lab, where they’ll be analyzed
D7 G G7
Then I’ll cut out, because no doubt, you’ve come to realize
C F CHORUS 3
You need a second opinion that is your best bet
G G7 C Walk up to
So let’s toss the ball over the wall and see what we will get
C F Cdim
To treat this thing that’s in ya and find the cause of your dilemma
C A D G C
We need the expertise on this disease that is troubling you
C F DYER VERSE
They call me Dr. Dyer and pathology’s my game
G C C7
I don’t know you nor do I want to, if it’s all the same
F Fm C Gdim
Your samples have been processed and now we know your issues
D7 G G7
We can see - to the nth degree - the trouble with your tissues
F Fm C Gdim
There’s no shame if your stain turns up something new
D7 G G7
But just in case, if I were you, I’d get another point of view
F Fm C Gdim BRIDGE
Maybe we should all get together and discuss your case
D7 G G7
That just might be the thing we need to eliminate mistakes
F Fm C Gdim
But hey one miss in twenty ain’t so bad, and odds are that it’s true
D7 G G7
Even if we’re wrong, it won’t be long, until your bill comes due
C F CHORUS 4 & ENDING
You need a second opinion that is your best bet
G G7 C Walk up to
So let’s toss the ball over the wall and see what we will get
C F Cdim
To treat this thing that’s in ya and find the cause of your dilemma
C A D G C
We need the expertise on this disease that is troubling you
C Cdim G C G C
We need the expertise on this disease that is troubling you
[Podlick]
[Outro]
So ends part 3 of the waiting room. Join us in two weeks as we continue Act II.
As always, please feel free to send me comments on this episode via Facebook at the Tim Tunes Podcast group or email me at timtunespodcast@gmail.com or via twitter @rimtoes or if you are a Patreon subscriber you can send me messages via Patreon.
All donations to the podcast are appreciated. And, if you’d like to donate to cancer research, may I suggest that you go to vohboston.org/donate and make a donation to Voices of Hope.
You can also help out the podcast by writing a review on whatever podcast tool you use or by liking us on Facebook or iTunes. That will go a long way towards increasing my reach. Also, you can support the show just by listening to some of my songs on your favorite music streaming service.
Whatever you do to support the show, I appreciate you.
We’ll be back in a few weeks with part 4. Until then… Auf Wiedersehen!
[Outro Pod Lick, [After Outro Pod Lick ends]