A physician doesn’t pull any punches:
Paul Krugman is a regular editorial columnist: a Princeton professor of economics with a Yale undergraduate degree and a PhD from M.I.T. He often comments on health care issues, so I read his column. Then I take the paper and wipe my ass with it.
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Krugman is often annoying, most notably when he discusses health policy. That particular editorial – ‘Health Voodoo Economics’ – seems to have drawn a lot of commentary around the medical blogosphere. Even from me.
Actually the American Health System might benefit greatly from free market economics if it were tried at the important decision points–which it has not to any great degree. Americans actually pay one of the lowest percentages of their healthcare out of pocket-only about 14%. One of the most efficient sectors of the economy is the restaurant sector–and it is almost entirely a free market sector. I would make very different decisions about where and how often to eat if I paid only 14% of the cost. I would consume a lot more of that service.
He can scorn the marketplace if he wants, but individuals will always make basic market place decisions regardless of whether it is free or not. Right now the governments interference in the marketplace means that I get a better return on my energy and time doing UM than I do seeing treating patients–even thought it is a shortage specialty. So I do UM.
I wouldn’t let a Krugman column touch my arse.
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