- Make prevention especially affordable and readily available
a. Annual physicals
b. Aggressive management of chronic conditions
c. Aggressive encouragement of smoking cessation and weight control
d. Emphasize nutrition and exercise - Get every American covered by health insurance
a. Would reduce “cost shift”
b. Large risks should be shared; small risks should be owned - Use technology to improve efficiencies and outcomes
a. Electronic medical records
b. Better use of diagnostic tools - Understand the competitive disadvantage we’re causing American industry
a. Private insureds and individual payers are making up for the bargain purchases the government is getting through its low reimbursements to Medicare and Medicaid providers.
b. Health insurance should be owned by individuals; not by their employers. - Meet the patient at the need
a. 24-7 clinics adjacent to emergency rooms
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
America Wins: Health Care
Affording quality health care is America’s most complex challenge. It’s going to take careful thought to design systems fit for America. Too simply stated, we should:
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1 comment:
Bob:
I don't see providing every American with Health Insurance as a solution to Health Care costs other than coverage of the catastrophic costs, for catastrophic care.
Our family of 4 pays $900.00 a month for a policy with a $5,000.00 deductable. Because of pre-existing conditions: Alergies, Migrane Headaches, and a heart murmur our youngest had at birth. Other than their negotiated deals with selected drug Mfg's the drug benefit is a Co pay after $2,500.00 deductable.
As I see it 30% of my policy goes to sales commission for the insurance company, (industry standard) in addition, as a Private Business they require increased profits each year of 10% over the previous year. Roughly tolled - 50% of what I pay for coverage is for costs that yield zero to my heath. That's $2500.00 a year - less than the additional taxes in countries that have national health care.
In addition, my taxes pay for the development of many of the drugs up until they are auctioned off to big Pharm. My taxes pay for part of MUSC and other State Health Institutions - none of which I ever see any benefit from - but correct me if I'm wrong.
I would be all for a program that doubled Social Security - however, half of which when into an account that could be drawn from for health costs. All State Hospitals then offer services at the same price that Blue Cross or United Healthcare Negotiate. For example, My family Dr claims that of the $135.00 he would charge for a walk in visit for an uninsured - he receives about $40.00 if they are covered by Blue Cross - and it takes 4 months to get the money from them - which kills him for cash flow. He is on the verge of going out of business - but because everyone is afraid to be uninsured - everyone pays through the nose for a service that is over priced - and screws the Dr. and the Patient - in order to line its pocket.
In short - the Republican Arguement for letting Private Sector run Health Care is what I feel needs a "come to Jesus." Premiums are over priced - little of which goes to actual health costs. Insurance is squeezing the small practitioner out of business - My family Physician didn't get a fee increase from 2002 - 2007 - yet in that time my premiums doubled. And finally, consumers find, when the annual policy is up - not only does it increase - but they systematically add exclusions that reflect they medicatations and specialized care that consumer uses most.
I would greatly appreciate you insignts into this - because I don't see how something like one's heath can be viewed as a good and service subject to rational application of supply and demand.
If my kid is sick he goes to the closest emergency room and gets what they doctor recommends - I don't get on the phone and ask a competitor - ok if its his appendix how much? Heart Attack? Nope too much I'm going to a hospital in Georgia.
For the life of me understand why the health insurance industry is given cart blanc in this debate. Is the only solution to this to "cut wasteful testing" - which essentially says - while we say we have the best healthcare - don't plan on using the best it has to offer - you can't afford it and we won't tell insurance companies what they can and cannot do.
And finally, as most of the Hospitals are now private corporations, how can we argue we have a Health System at All? If, a Saudi interest wanted to make a safe killing he'd buy the Privately owned Hospital Chains and reep the rewards of a 25% increase in profits year after year. I am given no preferential treatment as an American - thus an affluent citizen of a country with nationalized health care is actually better off in taking advantage of our government funded technology - than I am.
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