TinyTim

Healthcare 'Debate' Dominated by Shouting and Lobbies

Thanks for another good article.
I too see no real discussion or actions to reduce healthcare costs in all the yelling currently going on.
It's appalling that an issue this important is being dominated by partisan politics where it appears the actual issue is less important than who wins or loses the debate. As you say, this is typical politics. The town hall issues are just to blow smoke over the central proposals and create a "fog of war." In terms of monied lobbyists, this will be a very high stakes game.

While I agree that giving patients some skin in the game is a way to control costs, I'm not sure this would really work in an exam room. Doctors give tests to screen for problems. I my doc wants to give me a preventive test based on my age and health and family factors, I don't usually disagree. After all, much of the stuff he's testing for, I've never heard of, but he explains if I ask.

I don't understand the 88% cost items. Only 12% of medical payments go to actual care? If you haven't seen it yet, here's a layman's article that sheds some light on costs:
www.newyorker.com/repo...

I like your healthcare proposal probably because it sounds somewhat like mine. I compare mine to auto maintenance. I have insurance to cover my car if something major happens- a wreck or a tree falling on it. For oil changes or wash/wax or tuneups, I pay out-of-pocket.

The problem with paying out-of-pocket for routine medicine is the non-negotiated rates are usually hundreds of dollars. This needs to be addressed in the form of subsidized clinics to replace routine care in ER's by the uninsured. Urgent care clinics are all over, but they're priced for the insured.

I think we're in agreement that one of the cost problems is the need to differentiate between routine medical care and procedures requiring specialists.