Chadman said:
You guys who are against this and any kind of universal plan for healthcare, what kind of ideas and solutions do you have that could possibly help the problem of skyrocketing medical costs? Not a challenge, really, just asking what you support?
I find it interesting that the administration pushed forth the current Medicare plan, which does not allow the government to shop around for better prices. Seems to me to be a big conflict to what I hear continually preached from them - free market, competition, etc. Are they just that blatant to give the medical and pharmaceutical donators to their coffers all the money they can stand?
1. Currently we have over 30% of our health care costs going to administration. No other industrialized country spends over 20%.
2. Litigation costs' real costs lie in the practive of defensive, NON EVIDENCE BASED medicine.
3. Litigation is now killing pharmaceuticals and is PROLONGING the time to get new treatments out in the market. The Vioxx cases are completely outrageous and demonstrate this brief case mafia's assault on health care in America. What drug will be the next to attack and what company will be the next to assault? One only can guess.
4. The market is being driven out of health care. We need to eliminate copays and instead push for 2000 dollar yearly deductables, etc. Put the consumer and the dollar back in charge. Force the local pharmacies to compete for the dollar instead of having all these copays. Check the prices on over the counter meds and ask yourself why are they so cheap? Obviously the dollar is at work in making it so. This will also free up staff and reduce overhead in clinics and hospitals as people will not have to be hired to fight with the insurance companies. Just think of that overhead.
5. Promote health savings accounts.
6. Raise the retirement age by phasing it up to the early 70's for socialist benefits. Then after 75 there will be plenty of money for those who need it most. There is no reason the taxpayer should be supporting someone else's life on easy street. If you want to retire on your own terms do so, but it is BS to ask me to work so you can retire at 65.
7. Promote the use of PA's and reduce their liability. Give them 1 extra year of education in residency as an intern for their money. This will help immensely.