Once we get past this health bill

[other one]

We really do need to do something aobut the rising costs of health care.

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jun2009/db2009064_666715.htm

Top News June 4, 2009, 8:45AM EST text size: TT

<H1 style="MARGIN: 12pt 0in 3pt">Study Links Medical Costs and Personal Bankruptcy</H1><H2 style=MARGIN: 12pt 0in 3pt">Harvard researchers say 62% of all personal bankruptcies in the U.S. in 2007 were caused by health problems

[Rick-Parker]

Government run health care is not the solution. Stricter enforcement of the rules and regulations, coupled with aggressive prosecution of fraud and with tort reform is the solution. Less government, not more. Especially not socialism.

[O'Dannyboy]

I agree. What's more is they don't need a 1000+ page bill to make the crucial reforms. The problem is they feel they need to shove every change into one bill instead of taking step by step approach to it. They only thing they seem to be meticulously methodical about is their efforts to convince us why such broad and sweeping legislation is "necessary" and how we need to do it now or the sky will fall.

[Fraught]

my place of employment gave me a booklet about health care costs, why they've gotten so high and what to do about it. it was quite a common sense piece and broke it down in very simple terms. at the basic level, health care costs are high because the consumer doesn't know and doesn't care how much health care really costs until it's too late. we don't shop around for good prices because all we have to do is hand over our card and presto, medical care.

if it was more free market, competitive pricing could come in to play. people must pay attention and try to get the most value for their money in health care same as they do for auto care and other property maintenance needs.

[Rick-Parker]

Most health care plans have preferred providers whom they have negotiated pricing with. There is a penalty for going outside the network, so that there is not much "choice" about who to see. The problem is medicare fraud, defensive medicine, and specialization. There is no real incentive for PCP's to spend time with their patients. Another big problem is pharmaceutical companies incentivising doctors to prescribe the newest and most expensive drugs. Also, you would be surprised how many docs have a hidden interest in high tech medical companies like labs and MRI's and such. Let's fix what is broken, not reinvent it.

[Guest LadyC]

Most health care plans have preferred providers whom they have negotiated pricing with. There is a penalty for going outside the network, so that there is not much "choice" about who to see. The problem is medicare fraud, defensive medicine, and specialization. There is no real incentive for PCP's to spend time with their patients. Another big problem is pharmaceutical companies incentivising doctors to prescribe the newest and most expensive drugs. Also, you would be surprised how many docs have a hidden interest in high tech medical companies like labs and MRI's and such. Let's fix what is broken, not reinvent it.

our doctor's office no longer allows pharmaceutical reps on the premises. on the one hand, it means that the doctors can't give out free samples to those without insurance anymore, but on the other hand, it means that they have no incentive to prescribe expensive meds that aren't covered by insurance anyway. i kinda like their philosophy, and i certainly respect it. and since many pharmacies now do the $4 meds for most generics, i guess it works out quite well.

as for doctors owning stock in labs and mri's, i think i understand why they have to. it's hard for a doctor to make a profit practicing medicine anymore because of the high price of malpractice insurance. they're having to supplement their income, and it's a catch 22.

one of the things that really needs to happen is there needs to be a cap put on frivolous lawsuits against doctors.

[other one]

Most health care plans have preferred providers whom they have negotiated pricing with. There is a penalty for going outside the network, so that there is not much "choice" about who to see. The problem is medicare fraud, defensive medicine, and specialization. There is no real incentive for PCP's to spend time with their patients. Another big problem is pharmaceutical companies incentivising doctors to prescribe the newest and most expensive drugs. Also, you would be surprised how many docs have a hidden interest in high tech medical companies like labs and MRI's and such. Let's fix what is broken, not reinvent it.

our doctor's office no longer allows pharmaceutical reps on the premises. on the one hand, it means that the doctors can't give out free samples to those without insurance anymore, but on the other hand, it means that they have no incentive to prescribe expensive meds that aren't covered by insurance anyway. i kinda like their philosophy, and i certainly respect it. and since many pharmacies now do the $4 meds for most generics, i guess it works out quite well.

as for doctors owning stock in labs and mri's, i think i understand why they have to. it's hard for a doctor to make a profit practicing medicine anymore because of the high price of malpractice insurance. they're having to supplement their income, and it's a catch 22.

one of the things that really needs to happen is there needs to be a cap put on frivolous lawsuits against doctors.

and hospitals

[Rick-Parker]

Most health care plans have preferred providers whom they have negotiated pricing with. There is a penalty for going outside the network, so that there is not much "choice" about who to see. The problem is medicare fraud, defensive medicine, and specialization. There is no real incentive for PCP's to spend time with their patients. Another big problem is pharmaceutical companies incentivising doctors to prescribe the newest and most expensive drugs. Also, you would be surprised how many docs have a hidden interest in high tech medical companies like labs and MRI's and such. Let's fix what is broken, not reinvent it.

our doctor's office no longer allows pharmaceutical reps on the premises. on the one hand, it means that the doctors can't give out free samples to those without insurance anymore, but on the other hand, it means that they have no incentive to prescribe expensive meds that aren't covered by insurance anyway. i kinda like their philosophy, and i certainly respect it. and since many pharmacies now do the $4 meds for most generics, i guess it works out quite well.

as for doctors owning stock in labs and mri's, i think i understand why they have to. it's hard for a doctor to make a profit practicing medicine anymore because of the high price of malpractice insurance. they're having to supplement their income, and it's a catch 22.

one of the things that really needs to happen is there needs to be a cap put on frivolous lawsuits against doctors.

Actually, it is against the law for them to have an interest in those facilities. Seems they tend to order more MRIs if they have an interest in the MRI lab. Who would have thunk it? That's why tougher enforcement of fraud would drive down the cost of health care.

Most health care plans have preferred providers whom they have negotiated pricing with. There is a penalty for going outside the network, so that there is not much "choice" about who to see. The problem is medicare fraud, defensive medicine, and specialization. There is no real incentive for PCP's to spend time with their patients. Another big problem is pharmaceutical companies incentivising doctors to prescribe the newest and most expensive drugs. Also, you would be surprised how many docs have a hidden interest in high tech medical companies like labs and MRI's and such. Let's fix what is broken, not reinvent it.

our doctor's office no longer allows pharmaceutical reps on the premises. on the one hand, it means that the doctors can't give out free samples to those without insurance anymore, but on the other hand, it means that they have no incentive to prescribe expensive meds that aren't covered by insurance anyway. i kinda like their philosophy, and i certainly respect it. and since many pharmacies now do the $4 meds for most generics, i guess it works out quite well.

as for doctors owning stock in labs and mri's, i think i understand why they have to. it's hard for a doctor to make a profit practicing medicine anymore because of the high price of malpractice insurance. they're having to supplement their income, and it's a catch 22.

one of the things that really needs to happen is there needs to be a cap put on frivolous lawsuits against doctors.

and hospitals

Absolutely.

[Guest LadyC]

oh, i didn't realize it was illegal for them to own stock in such companies! well then why is this not enforced??

[O'Dannyboy]

oh, i didn't realize it was illegal for them to own stock in such companies! well then why is this not enforced??

For the same reason enforcement of immigration laws have been so lax all these years. This is where all the spending "cuts" have been made over the years to make up for the egregious waste made by other programs in addition to the hundreds of pork barrel projects funded every year.