The link below is a rather long way of saying the way we do health care in America is misguided at best and unsustainable in any shape or form that exists today. The author is a former Governor of Oregon, who is also a Medical Doctor.
Please read his testimony and know that he doesn’t offer a liberal answer or a conservative answer but he does ask us to search for a logical answer.
Here it goes.
Happy reading.
Mike Protack
4 responses so far ↓
John Rieley // February 13, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Mike, I agree that the health care system in this country has
issues and “opportunities” but I think than many of these issues really are not health care issues, they are insurance issues.
Our health care system is still the envy of the world where we
have debate is on how we pay for it.
I think we have to keep one principal in mind when debating the issue of how we pay for health care, the demand for health care is elastic. In fact, when I was studying economics, health care was offered as the premier example of infinite elasticity of demand. That is, a rational person would consume more and more medical service as the price declined provided the quality remained constant. Obviously we will insist that the quality of our health care remains high so as the price is kept artificialy low, people will use it, to the point that if it were free
we would go to the doctor to have a hang nail looked at.
I have a few questions though. A recent editorial in the News Journal calling for improvement in the health care system reviewed the groups of people who are the most underserved with health insurance. The statistics he offered, indicated that it is young males who are the most underserved. My question is, why should I through my tax dollar help pay for his decision to drive a better car (for example) rather than purchase health insurance? If he believes that he is making a rational decision why should the state over ride that choice and take it out of my pocket and make it harder for me to provide for my family?
Another question is, why do we continue to allow the same people who choose to buy things other than health insurance with their income to get free benefits by using the emergency room?
I could go on but I think some of these basic issues need to be addressed before we consider allowing government to play an even bigger role in the delivery of health care. History teaches us that (with very few exceptions) when ever a socialist approach is taken the system will end up with poor quality, shortages and higher prices.
liberalgeek // February 14, 2007 at 7:20 pm
JR,
In some ways, we have a healthcare system that is the envy of the world. For example, if you need an MRI, one can be had rather easily at any of 5 or 6 in New Castle County. In Canada, you could wait weeks and have to get it done at 3AM when it is available.
Where we are not envied is with the actual outcomes. We have the second worst infant mortality rate of the developed world. We rank 24th in life expectancy. Two years ago we spent 53% more for healthcare than anyone else. These are just a few examples. The question is not who pays for it so much as how do we ensure that everyone who needs it, gets it.
Also, why is it that Americans have a defeatist attitude about healthcare reform? All of this “Other countries have problems, so we will have those problems” crap is an expression of failure before we even try it. I know personally, I try not to go to the doctor if I can avoid it at all. It has absolutely nothing to do with costs and everything to do with the hassle of finding the time and desire.
betterdealfordelaware // February 16, 2007 at 6:53 pm
John,
Good point about rational decision but the only way to make the $$$$ work is to have everyone in and no one out.
The group who is going uninsured more and more are people making more than 50K a year because of the cost when you buy insurance on your own.
There is nothing socialistic about what I am talking about although I know we have single payer now (medicare) and we have sociliazed medicine(VA, MILITARY, CONGRESS) and we can do better. This is private insurance with a large pool and a core benefit which emphasizes value and health.
Thanks,
Mike
Albina-bh // March 5, 2009 at 10:39 pm
www regnum ru icq for mac os раскрутка сайта казань скачать аську через конструктор скачать бесплатно icq6