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healthcare debate
Aug. 14th, 2009 10:59 pmI've purposely not paid to close attention to the on-going debate. Much of it is posturing, propaganda, and misinformation--from all sides. But I will point out two things that will render much of the remainder of the debate moot:
First, everyone's base-line costs--and I mean doctors in individual or group practice, hospitals, labs, per diem nursing, everyone--are tied to the medicare reimbursement rates as the price "floor". This means everyone starts negotiating price beginning with that the government pays. And as long as medicare reimbursement rates are continually going up, the over-all cost of healthcare in the US will only go up.
And second, the number one expense item for the majority of physician specialties remains malpractice insurance. Until tort reform is coupled to health care reform, there never will truly be reform, just this perpetual rearranging of the chairs as a show of trying to get everyone a seat at the table.
First, everyone's base-line costs--and I mean doctors in individual or group practice, hospitals, labs, per diem nursing, everyone--are tied to the medicare reimbursement rates as the price "floor". This means everyone starts negotiating price beginning with that the government pays. And as long as medicare reimbursement rates are continually going up, the over-all cost of healthcare in the US will only go up.
And second, the number one expense item for the majority of physician specialties remains malpractice insurance. Until tort reform is coupled to health care reform, there never will truly be reform, just this perpetual rearranging of the chairs as a show of trying to get everyone a seat at the table.
