His sensible suggestion:
My proposed solution for this problem is to restore the free market to medicine by allowing balance-billing of Medicare services and copays for Medicaid patients. Only when physicians are allowed to charge market price for their services will the proper incentives be restored. Not only will more physicians be likely to accept Medicare patients, but they will be able to spend more time with them as well.
Update:
Here’s his concluding part.
Related posts:
- Can a free market in health care really exist?
- Scalpel takes on health care
- Graham solves health care
- A warning to those who want government negotiation of drug prices
- Is conflict of interest influencing Uwe Reinhardt’s health care analysis?
- Is health care prohibition in our future?
- Medicare and cutting health care costs
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{ 2 comments }
Any mention of the terms “free market” in regards to the current system and any proposed system that refuses to address and remove the supply limiting segments of Flexner is a travesty.
I was pleased that he addressed Medicare and Medicaid issues and how those can/do ripple throughout the system, along with the end-of-life issues (which I’ve yet to hear any politician really talk about; as I think that is such an individual thing and that it would easily have people up in arms if someone chose to dictate what was allowed; plus I think it would impact how doctors are trained, just my opinion though!). Scapel didn’t answer my old post as an anonymous, so I’ll leave my praise here (that’s cruel and petty isn’t it?). I am happy that he is addressing some issues that are generally glazed over in these debates.
I’d also love to hear an account from someone in economics, if there is anyone out there willing to do such a thing? One which would address if any of these are feasible in the long term for future generations to support, projecting with information we have now, not on “hopes” that things will change/be reformed in the future ; considering that tuition has the same problems as health care regarding inflation (and may even be worse), social security, etc. Because if this isn’t sustainable for the future taxpayers (along with the fact that UHC care plans seem to deteriorate in standards of care over time, forcing the average person to seek out private services), it will fail, and I don’t think anyone in support of basic reform or any of the UHC plans, wants whatever we do to just fail again.
Anyway, I’m happy Scapel took the time to share his views on the issue and even offered up his own solution (which many don’t take the time to do thoroughly). There are so many factors involved in this debate, so I’m happy people are trying to address all issues, even if I don’t agree with some of the basic views or minor details.
And thank you, Kevin. It is nice to have one spot that finds the more interesting blogs and news items for us and puts them all in one place. That’s why I keep coming back anyway!
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