Government Health Care

[Aquila]

Ferd...

There are several different models of national health care. The like we see in Canada wouldn't work here. Most likely a government program in our country would be more like a mixture of what's found in France and Germany.

But here's the reality... we're not going to have national health care here.

I'm not convinced that it's through the roof because nobody's looking at the cost. Over a third of what we pay for is redundant administrative processes. We can cut a significant amount of cost with a national health care database. Another major source of cost... law suits. If we could cap lawsuits and do something like we see in France were doctor's aren't taken to court, they're reviewed by regional boards of medical professionals, we can reduce cost a little more. We also need to get Americans going to the doctor regularly. We often don't know how sick we are until we can't ignore symptoms... by that time we are facing major problems. These health problems prove to be VERY expensive to treat. It's far less expensive to opt for salad instead of a Big Mac...to go for a quarterly physical and catch that rising blood pressure before it causes head aches and other symptoms that can damage vascular tissue or cause stroke. It's far less expensive to buy a membership to a heath club than to eat high on the hog every night.

And preachers.... need to lead the way when it comes to health. I'm sick of sing FAT bellied preachers, y'all need to be examples. lol

[Blubayou]

Ferd you make a lot of sense. I have had limited experience with doctors and insurance- Thank God- I think part of the problem is what you stated another piece of the problem are lawyers who are sue happy, and another part of the problem is the drug companies robbing us blind. My sister went to Mexico on a cruise last year and purchased a medication she uses in the States that cost $125 for a month's supply, for $5 dollars with out a script in a Mexican pharmacy. A pharmacist on the cruise said it was very likely the same medicine. I also think that when the drug companies started advertising in the media- we saw a drastic rise in costs.

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Blubayou

Ferd you make a lot of sense. I have had limited experience with doctors and insurance- Thank God- I think part of the problem is what you stated another piece of the problem are lawyers who are sue happy, and another part of the problem is the drug companies robbing us blind. My sister went to Mexico on a cruise last year and purchased a medication she uses in the States that cost $125 for a month's supply, for $5 dollars with out a script in a Mexican pharmacy. A pharmacist on the cruise said it was very likely the same medicine. I also think that when the drug companies started advertising in the media- we saw a drastic rise in costs.

You are right in that there are a number of different varibles. I highlighted the one that impacts costs directly in the Supply/Demand model.

It is in many ways the driver of the others.

Even Aquila is right to point out that adminstrative costs are a huge part of the problem.... I would point out that this part of the cost struture is by and large a government enforced problem. Both by legislative decree and because of insane medicare adminstrative costs.


but again you point to pharmapsudical companies being at least partly to blame. i dont disagree... to an extent.

Our government allows a company a 10 year patent on drugs they develop, AND we allow drug companies to pay the other drug companies that produce generic brands, NOT to produce a generic once it is allowed.

That keeps a big profit drug in the big profit relmn.

We also allow drug companies to advertise. While it may be on one level a free speach issue, it forces Doctors to push new expensive drugs over older less expensive drugs that maybe more "tried and true"

So drugs certainly have built in costs but that is seperate from the cost of healthcare.

You are right that malpratice is a huge issue. That needs reform too.

[seguidordejesus]

Originally Posted by Ferd

We also allow drug companies to advertise. While it may be on one level a free speach issue, it forces Doctors to push new expensive drugs over older less expensive drugs that maybe more "tried and true"

How are doctors forced to push the new drugs?

[Newman]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Ferd...

There are several different models of national health care. The like we see in Canada wouldn't work here. Most likely a government program in our country would be more like a mixture of what's found in France and Germany.

But here's the reality... we're not going to have national health care here.

I'm not convinced that it's through the roof because nobody's looking at the cost. Over a third of what we pay for is redundant administrative processes. We can cut a significant amount of cost with a national health care database. Another major source of cost... law suits. If we could cap lawsuits and do something like we see in France were doctor's aren't taken to court, they're reviewed by regional boards of medical professionals, we can reduce cost a little more. We also need to get Americans going to the doctor regularly. We often don't know how sick we are until we can't ignore symptoms... by that time we are facing major problems. These health problems prove to be VERY expensive to treat. It's far less expensive to opt for salad instead of a Big Mac...to go for a quarterly physical and catch that rising blood pressure before it causes head aches and other symptoms that can damage vascular tissue or cause stroke. It's far less expensive to buy a membership to a heath club than to eat high on the hog every night.

Hmm.... Well, I certainly hear the doctors complaining about the lawsuits, but I suggest we take another look.

The last time I read about the issue; American medical schools were deliberately limiting the number of doctors they were training (which creates doctor shortages).

The net result equals HIGHER PAY for doctors and doctors who are hard to understand since we bring them in from other countries. Ever wonder why so many doctors come from somewhere else?

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by seguidordejesus

How are doctors forced to push the new drugs?

You walk into the Drs office armmed with research on the latest and greatest drug for some ailment.

Dr hears 50 people telling him they want the new drugs. He either spends vast amount of time he doesnt have with each person explaining that the new drug may not be any better than the older less expensive drug and thus he ends up seeing fewer people or he just gives folk what they want.

After a while it seeps into the psychie....

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Newman

Hmm.... Well, I certainly hear the doctors complaining about the lawsuits, but I suggest we take another look.

The last time I read about the issue; American medical schools were deliberately limiting the number of doctors they were training (which creates doctor shortages).

The net result equals HIGHER PAY for doctors and doctors who are hard to understand since we bring them in from other countries. Ever wonder why so many doctors come from somewhere else?

good point... althought I still believe that malpratice lawsuits are out of control and leading to some doctors leaving certain areas and driving up healthcare costs and premiums for insurance are out of hand.


but you do bring up an interesting side note. That being the supply of healthcare professionals.

In addition to schools matrculating enough doctors, the current Obama adminstration are placing POLITICAL REQUIREMENTS that require doctors in training to perform abortions and prevent a doctor from refusing to perform these proceedures.

this will cause fewer people from wanting to be Drs. as well.

Additionally every country with Government healthcare has experienced shortages as government rules make it increasingly more difficult to practice.

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Newman

Hmm.... Well, I certainly hear the doctors complaining about the lawsuits, but I suggest we take another look.

The last time I read about the issue; American medical schools were deliberately limiting the number of doctors they were training (which creates doctor shortages).

The net result equals HIGHER PAY for doctors and doctors who are hard to understand since we bring them in from other countries. Ever wonder why so many doctors come from somewhere else?

good point... althought I still believe that malpratice lawsuits are out of control and leading to some doctors leaving certain areas and driving up healthcare costs and premiums for insurance are out of hand.


but you do bring up an interesting side note. That being the supply of healthcare professionals.

In addition to schools matrculating enough doctors, the current Obama adminstration are placing POLITICAL REQUIREMENTS that require doctors in training to perform abortions and prevent a doctor from refusing to perform these proceedures.

this will cause fewer people from wanting to be Drs. as well.

Additionally every country with Government healthcare has experienced shortages as government rules make it increasingly more difficult to practice.

[coadie]

http://docs.house.gov/gopleader/Hous...ealth-Plan.pdf
Here is what the new Plan looks like.
They know what is best for you. Even your doc doesn't really know what is best.

[Esther]

Only idots would think a government that can't balance their budget, that is bankrupting America, can have enough brains left to handle the medical problems.