Since this is health care "reform," I can think of two other items that ought to be in this bill to reduce costs.
1. Tort Reform. I heard a stat once that 25% of all medical tests weren't really needed, but ordered by doctors to cover their behinds so they wouldn't be sued.
I remember a few years back (right around the time my wife was pregnant) that obstetricians were leaving the field because they just couldn't handle the shockingly high medical malpractice insurance premiums.
2. Restructuring who can deliver health care. Even for the most routine of visits, we end up seeing a highly educated, highly trained MD. Is that really necessary? I can't tell you how many visits for minor things like small cuts that needed stitching that could have been handled by a less educated, less trained and much cheaper provider.
Maybe it's about time that the medical industry and the gov't set up a new regime with some other folks that can receive an intermediate amount of training and provide for simpler health care needs.
So why won't the Democrats offer any of the reforms offered above?
dukemack
If those were even considered the amount of political contributions for the Democratic party would be reduced, possibly risking our time of care under Obama. I dont think it wise to question the chosen one.
Kevin A.R.T.
I would be OK with ANY reform that meets the following conditions:
1) Anyone can meet a doctor, and get treatment, regardless of how much money they make. Preventative care, too, not just emergency room visits. (Those are pretty useless to someone with cancer)
2) No one can be dropped from insurance coverage
3) Insurance providers are required to accept anyone, regardless of pre-existing conditions.
I'm not picky. I'd rather single-payer after seeing its success in other countries, but I'd settle with anything that meets those 3.
Zeux
we could rewrite the laws so only legal US citizens, or legal visitors can recieve medical care. life doesnt work like that. if you cant pay, no play.
giving everyone a readily available account they can use towards health expenses, that's tax exempt or something. everyone gets a flex account. rather than paying out of pocket, then having to write it off at the end of the year.
callenqhranch
This has nothing to do with health care it is all about turning America into a Democratic Controlled Social Justice Country where they "THE DEMOCRATS" determine what is "justice".
It is pretty apparent that they give less then two cents about Public Opinion.
They the government have done a bang up job, "pat themselves on the back" with the American Indian Health Care Program.
Why anyone would give that much power Bureaucrat is beyond me!
peg leg pete
1. tort reform . if you go to the hospital to have your left leg removed and they screw up and remove your right one which is going to leave with no legs because the left still needs to be removed . do you just ask for a wheel chair and go home this has happened . once a law is passed the limit is there . what would your child being screwed up for life mean to you ....2.restructuring who can deliver health care . i know some m.d. s i would not trust same with nurses . we had a head nurse at a very good hospital call a doctor in to operate on my wife . between the nurse and who ever read the x-ray they did not know what they were talking a bout .my wife was ready to be moved to the operating room when the dr. said no . she is fine and it is 2 yrs, later. and i have had nurses stitch and do wound care . i pay over 8,000 a year for insurance and meds, once in a while i like to get some thing in return ......extreme profit needs to leave medicine... capitalism does not work in any of the medical fields
SC Bearcat
Through all of this debate on health care one thing is being forgotten: Health care is service not a right. It is a good that is sold to maximize profit for the seller while offering benefit (better health) to the buyer. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that every person shall be taken care of. You have the right to life (no one is legally allowed to harm you), liberty (the individual freedom to do what you wish sans encroaching upon another's rights), and the pursuit of happiness (to do what make you feel accomplished/at peace).
We have gotten to the point that we feel entitled to many things which are earned and not given. Health care is akin to taking your car to a mechanic. You can save money by not seeing the mechanic unless something bad happens, but the downside is that likely will lead to a shorter life for your vehicle and higher costs when something does go wrong. I personally choose to sacrifice money over time to conduct periodic maintenance reducing the likelihood of catastrophic incidents.
The health care industry needs to be tweaked, yes, but removing the free market from health care will only deteriorate the quality of care in this country.
Orignal From: Why is having taxpayers subsidize health care the only "reform" Democrats can think of?
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