Comments on: Containing health care costs http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/12/containing-health-care-costs.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/12/containing-health-care-costs.html#comment-82015 Anonymous Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:06:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/12/containing-health-care-costs.html#comment-82015 As long as you talk about "health care costs" in the aggregate, the problem will continue to be a governmental one. When you start talking about the cost to the individual, and what the individual can afford or the family can afford, then it will become an individual rather than a societal issue.<br/><br/>Physicians, you can't bitch incessantly about healthcare, and ask politicians to help you in one area, and then complain when politicians go sticking their nose in healthcare issues. <br/><br/>Particularly when you offer no realistic solutions of your own. Even Kevin's favorite solution, the Mass. plan, is a government run fix. As long as you talk about “health care costs” in the aggregate, the problem will continue to be a governmental one. When you start talking about the cost to the individual, and what the individual can afford or the family can afford, then it will become an individual rather than a societal issue.

Physicians, you can’t bitch incessantly about healthcare, and ask politicians to help you in one area, and then complain when politicians go sticking their nose in healthcare issues.

Particularly when you offer no realistic solutions of your own. Even Kevin’s favorite solution, the Mass. plan, is a government run fix.

]]> By: Scotthttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/12/containing-health-care-costs.html#comment-81997 Scott Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:28:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/12/containing-health-care-costs.html#comment-81997 "The example of laser eye surgery is frequently cited to support this in health care." <br/><br/>The reason why the market has worked for laser eye surgery is because there are no third party payers involved. Once third party payers enter the arena, the "market" is gone. Now what you have is an industry market that leaves the consumer powerless and a healthcare industry with no incentive to reduce costs. <br/><br/>This is why universal coverage will never work; unless massive price controls are implemented. “The example of laser eye surgery is frequently cited to support this in health care.”

The reason why the market has worked for laser eye surgery is because there are no third party payers involved. Once third party payers enter the arena, the “market” is gone. Now what you have is an industry market that leaves the consumer powerless and a healthcare industry with no incentive to reduce costs.

This is why universal coverage will never work; unless massive price controls are implemented.

]]> By: Matthewhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/12/containing-health-care-costs.html#comment-81989 Matthew Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:23:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/12/containing-health-care-costs.html#comment-81989 Unfortunately, if there's one thing politicians hate, it's letting things that work well be what they are without interference. The appearance of activity is the most important thing in any ongoing politician's hope for being re-elected. Any politician, particularly one that was elected by espousing populist or big government positions (as many unfortunately are), would far rather act first, and then read the legislation and worry about the consequences later. Unfortunately, if there’s one thing politicians hate, it’s letting things that work well be what they are without interference. The appearance of activity is the most important thing in any ongoing politician’s hope for being re-elected. Any politician, particularly one that was elected by espousing populist or big government positions (as many unfortunately are), would far rather act first, and then read the legislation and worry about the consequences later.

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