True. Until we actually try to solve the problem of rising costs, the costs will indeed continue upward. The Obamacare plan does NOTHING to address rising costs and will instead increase the costs due to supply and demand.
Obamacare is a start. As it slowly morphs into a universal plan costs will come down. (More on this later on.)
It is not a universal plan that causes prices to go down. Unless of course that plan allows the government to restrict the services and determine what 'acceptable' procedures are.
Those universal plans in the industrialized countries are bankrupting their governments. Just as our system is.
As for per capita spending....
1. higher prices for the same health care goods and services than are paid in other countries for the same goods and services; (WE SUBSIDIZE a lot of costs so that third world countries can get better pricing... note... why is it that the same meds can be found in Canada and Mexico at far cheaper prices than in the US???)
Why? Because the governments in those countries negotiate with the drug companies. (If I recall your dear friend Bush refused to allow negotiations when he brought forth the drug plan for seniors.)
It’s basic business. Let’s say a government decides to pay for headache medication. It has a choice between Advil, made by Wyeth/Pfizer or Tylenol, made by Johnson & Johnson or Aspirin, made by Bayer. The government looks at the cost per dose and has a chat with the company rep.
Here’s the deal. Lower your price and we’ll pay for all the people requiring headache medication. If a person can obtain Advil at no charge under their med plan or pay out-of-pocket for Tylenol and Aspirin what is the average person going to use? Thus, the price goes down.
2. significantly higher administrative overhead costs than are incurred in other countries with simpler health-insurance systems; (This is an area we need to address. It is insanely stupid to have 50 sets of rules for insurance companies to follow. This does not mean we need a universal plan, but rather a standard set of rules)
A standard set of rules? For example??
Are insurance companies voluntarily going to use the same computers/programs so doctors can access medical files? Trying to get doctors to agree on anything country-wide would be next to impossible but it would be an excellent stalling tactic.
3. more widespread use of high-cost, high-tech equipment and procedures than are used in other countries; (something the left continually forgets when comparing costs per capita)
Apparently the high-tech equipment and procedures are not resulting in a longer life span.
4. higher treatment costs triggered by our uniquely American tort laws, which in the context of medicine can lead to “defensive medicine” — that is, the application of tests and procedures mainly as a defense against possible malpractice litigation, rather than as a clinical imperative. (without question our litigious society leads to wasteful defensive medical practices)
I’d be interested in seeing some figures as to exactly how much it increases costs. It seems the “cap the malpractice awards” is always thrown out as a solution when it is a minor contributor.
The article does wrap up with “There are three other explanations that are widely — but erroneously — thought among non-experts to be cost drivers in the American health spending. To wit:
1. that the aging of our population drives health spending
2. that we get better quality from our health system than do other nations, and
3. that we get better health outcomes from our system
People have to divest themselves of the idea their health care is superior to other nations. It is not, yet, that is constantly stated as fact even when study after study has shown citizens in countries with a universal plan have longer life spans and are adamant about keeping their government plan.
We can reduce health care costs and insurance premiums without the monstrosity of a governmental universal plan.
I suppose it’s theoretically possible but we all know it would never happen. The old, tired, worn out arguments are regurgitated until everyone experiences nausea and drops the discussion. A decade or two passes and someone picks up the ball. The same thing occurs and another decade or two passes. Meanwhile, generation after generation go without proper health care.
If it wasn’t so sad it would be comical to hear people talk about health care being rammed down their throats. Rammed? It’s been 45 years since Medicare/Medicaid and even longer since the idea of medical care was considered.
Is it any wonder why Obama took the approach of "just do it!"
