Comments on: Health Care Reform's Odds http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/11/20/health-care-reforms-odds/ A blog about politics. Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:44:51 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: bethnva http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/11/20/health-care-reforms-odds/comment-page-1/#comment-22769 bethnva Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:13:55 +0000 http://timeswampland.wordpress.com/?p=8430#comment-22769 I hope we get universal health care. I'm a single-payer fan--I'd love to give businesses a break by taking it off their hands... Great photo for the article, by the way...the man's got game! I hope we get universal health care. I'm a single-payer fan--I'd love to give businesses a break by taking it off their hands...

Great photo for the article, by the way...the man's got game!

]]> By: bryanfromhouston http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/11/20/health-care-reforms-odds/comment-page-1/#comment-22688 bryanfromhouston Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:24:55 +0000 http://timeswampland.wordpress.com/?p=8430#comment-22688 Flown, - Further evidence is to just look at the number of lawsuits being filed...a riduculously low number. Suits don't get filed when people aren't going to the doctor because they lost their job and have no insurance. - The health care industry is just another GM situation. Seriously. Mismanaged. Flown,
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Further evidence is to just look at the number of lawsuits being filed...a riduculously low number. Suits don't get filed when people aren't going to the doctor because they lost their job and have no insurance.
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The health care industry is just another GM situation. Seriously. Mismanaged.

]]> By: FlownOver http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/11/20/health-care-reforms-odds/comment-page-1/#comment-22674 FlownOver Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:51:45 +0000 http://timeswampland.wordpress.com/?p=8430#comment-22674 Jayack – Spot on regarding malpractice. Just track malpractice premiums relative to the stock market, and it becomes clear the premiums go up when the insurance company isn't making enough on unrelated investments. Our old family doc made dire pronouncements about the coming of Medicare. A few years in, he called it the best thing ever to happen to his practice. His son the doctor and his grandson the doctor seem not to have been deterred by government involvement in the health care system. Jayack –

Spot on regarding malpractice. Just track malpractice premiums relative to the stock market, and it becomes clear the premiums go up when the insurance company isn't making enough on unrelated investments.

Our old family doc made dire pronouncements about the coming of Medicare. A few years in, he called it the best thing ever to happen to his practice. His son the doctor and his grandson the doctor seem not to have been deterred by government involvement in the health care system.

]]> By: kbanginmotown http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/11/20/health-care-reforms-odds/comment-page-1/#comment-22673 kbanginmotown Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:41:50 +0000 http://timeswampland.wordpress.com/?p=8430#comment-22673 @jay+wm: Great comments. Excellent posts. . @wv: I'd be great if you could find that post. . On a related note: A friend of mine works for the VA in their pharmacy administration unit. An unsung hero if there ever was one. Travels to VA Hospitals in the midwest encouraging the use of generic drugs in cases where patient care is not compromised. Works on the 80/20 rule: 20% of the drugs dispensed by the VA account for 80% of the costs. Any dent he can make into that 20% is a plus for vets and the US taxpayer. From what I've read (no links handy), the VA could be a model for Universal Health Care with minimal overhead. . Note: Walter Reed is an Army, not a VA, hospital. Oh, and BTW, has McCain ever gotten around to straightening out Walter Reed? @jay+wm: Great comments. Excellent posts.
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@wv: I'd be great if you could find that post.
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On a related note: A friend of mine works for the VA in their pharmacy administration unit. An unsung hero if there ever was one. Travels to VA Hospitals in the midwest encouraging the use of generic drugs in cases where patient care is not compromised. Works on the 80/20 rule: 20% of the drugs dispensed by the VA account for 80% of the costs. Any dent he can make into that 20% is a plus for vets and the US taxpayer. From what I've read (no links handy), the VA could be a model for Universal Health Care with minimal overhead.
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Note: Walter Reed is an Army, not a VA, hospital. Oh, and BTW, has McCain ever gotten around to straightening out Walter Reed?

]]> By: newfloridian http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/11/20/health-care-reforms-odds/comment-page-1/#comment-22665 newfloridian Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:59:41 +0000 http://timeswampland.wordpress.com/?p=8430#comment-22665 Healthcare reform is a guarantee this time.. as it will be tied to the economy. Massive unemployment, companies straining under the weight of retiree health insurance plans, and the need to change health care programs to make labor less expensive makes it all go quick and fast. This is a no brainer. Healthcare reform is a guarantee this time.. as it will be tied to the economy. Massive unemployment, companies straining under the weight of retiree health insurance plans, and the need to change health care programs to make labor less expensive makes it all go quick and fast. This is a no brainer.

]]> By: jayackroyd http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/11/20/health-care-reforms-odds/comment-page-1/#comment-22663 jayackroyd Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:51:34 +0000 http://timeswampland.wordpress.com/?p=8430#comment-22663 Yes. VM. everything. . Malpractice abuse is a BS issue, and easily handled. . Patent abuse and big Pharma is handled easily by good dispensing policies and a revision to patent law. But without any revision to patent law, the way copays work drive up costs, needlessly. The idea that doctors should only dispense on patent medications is dealt with by government agencies managing studies of effective practices. . Illegal immigrants are best handled by 1) enforcing American labor laws and 2) covering people who are here legally. Illegal immigration is only an issue because employers violate the law. Enforce the law. Punish employers. Problem solved. . Dr shortages are easily fixed as well. My brother the doctor spent his first few years in practice in a doctor shortage area as a condition for a loan reduction. This is not hard to do. . The problems in the American medical care system are entirely tied to the existence of profit-making gatekeepers. Yes. VM. everything.
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Malpractice abuse is a BS issue, and easily handled.
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Patent abuse and big Pharma is handled easily by good dispensing policies and a revision to patent law. But without any revision to patent law, the way copays work drive up costs, needlessly. The idea that doctors should only dispense on patent medications is dealt with by government agencies managing studies of effective practices.
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Illegal immigrants are best handled by 1) enforcing American labor laws and 2) covering people who are here legally. Illegal immigration is only an issue because employers violate the law. Enforce the law. Punish employers. Problem solved.
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Dr shortages are easily fixed as well. My brother the doctor spent his first few years in practice in a doctor shortage area as a condition for a loan reduction. This is not hard to do.
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The problems in the American medical care system are entirely tied to the existence of profit-making gatekeepers.

]]> By: wvng http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/11/20/health-care-reforms-odds/comment-page-1/#comment-22657 wvng Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:27:46 +0000 http://timeswampland.wordpress.com/?p=8430#comment-22657 I remember a few weeks ago way down in a thread when KT bemoaned the fact that we can't seem to have a serious discussion of health care reform in the country. I suggested that was because the media entertains all of the scorched earth rhetoric -"it's socialism!," and false stories - "everyone in Canada hates their system", that the right inevitably throws out. . I have no doubt that such rhetoric will be injected into the media again in an attempt to poison the debate. Ramesh Ponnuru said as much early this year, in an honest accounting of the weak political position Republicans found themselves in. He stated unequivocally that they could not let the Dems pass health care reform because that would demonstrate that government can provide meaningful benefits to people which would ruin their core message (No, I can't find the article, tried.) . I know the national mood makes passage of reform more likely now. But will the msm allow the usual RW tripe to poison substantive debate without challenge? I remember a few weeks ago way down in a thread when KT bemoaned the fact that we can't seem to have a serious discussion of health care reform in the country. I suggested that was because the media entertains all of the scorched earth rhetoric -"it's socialism!," and false stories - "everyone in Canada hates their system", that the right inevitably throws out.
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I have no doubt that such rhetoric will be injected into the media again in an attempt to poison the debate. Ramesh Ponnuru said as much early this year, in an honest accounting of the weak political position Republicans found themselves in. He stated unequivocally that they could not let the Dems pass health care reform because that would demonstrate that government can provide meaningful benefits to people which would ruin their core message (No, I can't find the article, tried.)
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I know the national mood makes passage of reform more likely now. But will the msm allow the usual RW tripe to poison substantive debate without challenge?

]]> By: viciousmaniac http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/11/20/health-care-reforms-odds/comment-page-1/#comment-22656 viciousmaniac Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:26:29 +0000 http://timeswampland.wordpress.com/?p=8430#comment-22656 There might be a hefty double post a-comin', for some reason, the mods got the first one. If it happens, my bad. There might be a hefty double post a-comin', for some reason, the mods got the first one. If it happens, my bad.

]]> By: viciousmaniac http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/11/20/health-care-reforms-odds/comment-page-1/#comment-22654 viciousmaniac Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:24:48 +0000 http://timeswampland.wordpress.com/?p=8430#comment-22654 Everybody hates the system, and everything that is wrong with it is due to the insurance companies' role. . Literally everything? . Malpractice abuse, such as this example. The article doesn't mention the worst issues either, such as malpractice insurance rates going through the roof, driving doctors out of the business. http://www.boston.com/news/local/m@ssachusetts/articles/2008/11/18/doctors_fear_of_lawsuits_tied_to_added_costs_of_14b/ . Doctor shortages, such as this example. Mostly caused by the complete mess that is the medical education system (frankly, the entire educational system, from K to whatever), as well as, obviously, health care. You also have immigrant "brain waste" thanks to our insane immigration laws, such as the second example. How do you promise everyone a doctor when there aren't enough of them? http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-02-26-doctor-shortage_N.htm http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-immigwork11-2008nov11,0,3236612.story . The burden of illegal immigrants, unfortunately, such as this example. Not the biggest problem but still an elephant in the room as it's affecting Medicaid and the taxpayer. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/immigration/la-me-dialysis29-2008oct29,0,2740041.story . Big Pharma. Not talking about the outrageous costs. Talking about actual "planned obsolescence" in medication, designed to be less effective in order to promote more of its use. Also talking about side-effects and the corrupt FDA: guy spends a fortune on FDA-approved asthma medication, gets cancer from the mega-steroids used in the medication, spends another fortune on cancer treatments. http://www.worstpills.org/ . . It goes on and on. I personally think insurance is by far the worst evil, but everything related to health care is a mess in this country and I doubt there is a single bill that can be the magic bullet. Everybody hates the system, and everything that is wrong with it is due to the insurance companies' role.
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Literally everything?
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Malpractice abuse, such as this example. The article doesn't mention the worst issues either, such as malpractice insurance rates going through the roof, driving doctors out of the business.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/m@ssachusetts/articles/2008/11/18/doctors_fear_of_lawsuits_tied_to_added_costs_of_14b/
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Doctor shortages, such as this example. Mostly caused by the complete mess that is the medical education system (frankly, the entire educational system, from K to whatever), as well as, obviously, health care. You also have immigrant "brain waste" thanks to our insane immigration laws, such as the second example. How do you promise everyone a doctor when there aren't enough of them?
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-02-26-doctor-shortage_N.htm
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-immigwork11-2008nov11,0,3236612.story
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The burden of illegal immigrants, unfortunately, such as this example. Not the biggest problem but still an elephant in the room as it's affecting Medicaid and the taxpayer.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/immigration/la-me-dialysis29-2008oct29,0,2740041.story
.
Big Pharma. Not talking about the outrageous costs. Talking about actual "planned obsolescence" in medication, designed to be less effective in order to promote more of its use. Also talking about side-effects and the corrupt FDA: guy spends a fortune on FDA-approved asthma medication, gets cancer from the mega-steroids used in the medication, spends another fortune on cancer treatments.
http://www.worstpills.org/
.
.
It goes on and on. I personally think insurance is by far the worst evil, but everything related to health care is a mess in this country and I doubt there is a single bill that can be the magic bullet.

]]> By: viciousmaniac http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/11/20/health-care-reforms-odds/comment-page-1/#comment-22653 viciousmaniac Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:22:48 +0000 http://timeswampland.wordpress.com/?p=8430#comment-22653 <I>Everybody hates the system, and everything that is wrong with it is due to the insurance companies' role.</I> . Literally everything? . Malpractice abuse, such as this example. The article doesn't mention the worst issues either, such as malpractice insurance rates going through the roof, driving doctors out of the business. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/11/18/doctors_fear_of_lawsuits_tied_to_added_costs_of_14b/ . Doctor shortages, such as this example. Mostly caused by the complete mess that is the medical education system (frankly, the entire educational system, from K to whatever), as well as, obviously, health care. You also have immigrant "brain waste" thanks to our insane immigration laws, such as the second example. How do you promise everyone a doctor when there aren't enough of them? http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-02-26-doctor-shortage_N.htm http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-immigwork11-2008nov11,0,3236612.story . The burden of illegal immigrants, unfortunately, such as this example. Not the biggest problem but still an elephant in the room as it's affecting Medicaid and the taxpayer. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/immigration/la-me-dialysis29-2008oct29,0,2740041.story . Big Pharma. Not talking about the outrageous costs. Talking about actual "planned obsolescence" in medication, designed to be less effective in order to promote more of its use. Also talking about side-effects and the corrupt FDA: guy spends a fortune on FDA-approved asthma medication, gets cancer from the mega-steroids used in the medication, spends another fortune on cancer treatments. http://www.worstpills.org/ . . It goes on and on. I personally think insurance is by far the worst evil, but everything related to health care is a mess in this country and I doubt there is a single bill that can be the magic bullet. Everybody hates the system, and everything that is wrong with it is due to the insurance companies' role.
.
Literally everything?
.
Malpractice abuse, such as this example. The article doesn't mention the worst issues either, such as malpractice insurance rates going through the roof, driving doctors out of the business.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/11/18/doctors_fear_of_lawsuits_tied_to_added_costs_of_14b/
.
Doctor shortages, such as this example. Mostly caused by the complete mess that is the medical education system (frankly, the entire educational system, from K to whatever), as well as, obviously, health care. You also have immigrant "brain waste" thanks to our insane immigration laws, such as the second example. How do you promise everyone a doctor when there aren't enough of them?
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-02-26-doctor-shortage_N.htm
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-immigwork11-2008nov11,0,3236612.story
.
The burden of illegal immigrants, unfortunately, such as this example. Not the biggest problem but still an elephant in the room as it's affecting Medicaid and the taxpayer.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/immigration/la-me-dialysis29-2008oct29,0,2740041.story
.
Big Pharma. Not talking about the outrageous costs. Talking about actual "planned obsolescence" in medication, designed to be less effective in order to promote more of its use. Also talking about side-effects and the corrupt FDA: guy spends a fortune on FDA-approved asthma medication, gets cancer from the mega-steroids used in the medication, spends another fortune on cancer treatments.
http://www.worstpills.org/
.
.
It goes on and on. I personally think insurance is by far the worst evil, but everything related to health care is a mess in this country and I doubt there is a single bill that can be the magic bullet.

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