Common Sense
Rookie
- Nov 2, 2010
- 915
- 44
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- Banned
- #21
Sorry friend. I've been in the business. I have close friends who are in the business now. The U.S. Healthcare system was one of the most affordable and best in the world BEFORE government got involved. Get government out of it altogether and it has a fighting chance to be that again.
you've earlier established that abuse of hippocratic care would result in unreconciled costs which providers would have to eat. can you explain how medicare hasn't functioned to significantly displace the extent of this un-paid treatment, or how mandates would not go further in this way?
on the basis of that paradox, it is apparent, despite yours and your friends involvement in healthcare, that you've all failed to make a logical attribution to the sources of cost increases in our system.
And perhaps we haven't failed at all. Government's role should be to secure the rights of the people which would include application of Ricco and Anti Trust laws, requirements for a free market--no monopolies unless there is a compelling need for there to be one. Requirements that rates be posted and applied uniformly. A medical provider can reduce or waive fees but cannot charge more simply because somebody is perceived to be able to pay more. The government would do a huge service by making it possible to cap malpractice claims in all but gross negligence and making it much more difficult to file frivolous or opportunistic lawsuits. The government absolutely should test and verify credentials and then license medical professionals.
What the government should not do is organize or administer or mandate healthcare in any way or otherwise interject itself into a free market. It should not set rates, fees, or other costs.
I am actually gonna agree with a lot of this last post.
"Government's role should be to secure the rights of the people which would include application of Ricco and Anti Trust laws, requirements for a free market--no monopolies unless there is a compelling need for there to be one. Requirements that rates be posted and applied uniformly. A medical provider can reduce or waive fees but cannot charge more simply because somebody is perceived to be able to pay more. The government would do a huge service by making it possible to cap malpractice claims in all but gross negligence and making it much more difficult to file frivolous or opportunistic lawsuits. The government absolutely should test and verify credentials and then license medical professionals."
i have no arguments for any of this.
the last sentence i will disagree with partially. since the government is not actually setting the insurance rates of the private companies. the government actually already organizes and administers HC when it comes to the VA and Medicare and Medicaid. Both of which are highly popular and highly used programs.
the problem we have with the free market sometimes is that greed overshadows most everything (in recent years). many times people do not do the ethical or responsible thing. can simply look at the collapse of the banking system for this, as well as the continuing increase in the gap between the rich and the middle class. once you are at the top you tend to protect yourself and your $ at the expense of others. regulations exist to create fair and safe business practices. they should not however impede a companies ability to do business.
for example, i have heard many conservatives say they are for eliminating the OSHA. (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) they believe that OSHA simply exists to limit small businesses from doing their jobs. they forget about all of the work place standards they regulate and oversee which directly protect workers.
the free market is great in theory, but practically in many areas it doesnt work. (natural monopolies so exist for our benefit - electrical and water utilities) the barriers to entry are extremely high and it is to the benefit of everyone to restrict competition and regulate prices.