Comments on: A health care stimulus package that makes sense

By: Jay Parkinson

Jay Parkinson — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 18:11:00 +0000

Sounds a lot like Hello Health to me.

By: Deron Schriver

Deron Schriver — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:57:00 +0000

Kevin – Doesn’t this go against the point you always make about how increasing access to the system will further exacerbate the problems with our battered primary care delivery system? In other words, who’s going to see all of these patients?

I’m also not sure how administrators and coders lose out in that scenario??

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:48:00 +0000

How about not taking the dollar from the person in the first place? If the American people are unwilling to spend a mere 365$ a year out of their own pocket on needed healthcare, then the only healthcare that we need is sterilization so that we might be more rapidly replaced by a more vigorous people.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:23:00 +0000

Don’t you mean it’s a win for “PCPs”, not “doctors”?

I tend to lose track because of how it’s always just “doctors” for something that only benefits PCPs, but “primary care physicians” when you’re declaring that specialists are the enemy and you can’t wait for their income to be redistributed to you.

Meanwhile the government and insurers can’t stop laughing at how they get the rats to fight harder and harder over the cheese as they give less and less.

By: q-school

q-school — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:40:00 +0000

you have to spend money to save money

By: Doc99

Doc99 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:44:00 +0000

This is remarkably similar to The Happy Hospitalist’s post back in November of 2007. Coincidence or Plagiarism? More at link -
http://thehappyhospitalist.blogspot.com/2008/11/did-happys-idea-just-make-it-into-wall.html

By: GingerB

GingerB — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:59:00 +0000

I think it would juice costs up.

I am sure I am not the only person who doesn't go to the doctor once a month -- and doesn't need to.

If you give people that credit then they'll feel they are entitled (a common feeling when health care is mentioned) to use it.

All those little things your Mother who didn't have $30 to spend taking you to the doctor told you -drink more water, eat your vegetables, maybe you shouldn't drink so much, wear your sunscreen, take an aspirin- will go right out the door. You can just visit your Doctor, after all you're entitled.

A certain percentage would result in referrals to specialists. That would cost even more.

While it's an interesting concept it probably needs to be targeted at people who actually should be checking in regularly and aren't.

By: The Happy Hospitalist

The Happy Hospitalist — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:42:00 +0000

That's an interesting proposal, considering it sounds EXACTLY like my proposal from over one year ago.

The Proposal Sounds Just Like Happy's Proposal From Over One Year Ago