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Originally Posted by Jim in CT
Are you saying that government would act as a healthcare provider (like a doctor), or are you saying the government would act as a health insurance company (taking people's money and paying doctors with that money)...
If you are talking about the government actually providing healthcare, well, I don't see that the government does many things nearly as well or efficiently as what's done in the private scetor. The government has no incentive to save money, because they are spending other people's money.
If you're talking about the government acting as an insurance company, that's how Medicare works, and (1) it doesn't pay doctors enough for services provided, and (2) it's nearly bankrupt, and will be completely bankrupt when the baby boomers are all old and sick.
I don't pretend to have any answers...
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I am saying the government would act like a public utility commission would. They would set the rate that each procedure should be payed. The insurance companies already do this , but if you have no insurance you pay almost double for the same procedure. This way there is a flat rate across the board for any and all procedures, it could be fine tuned by geographical area based on cost of living say. If hospitals want that rate to go up they would go in front of a board, and present evidence as to why the rate they get from anyone for a particular procedure should go up, then the board would decide on the increase.
as an example I go in for surgery and the anesthesiologist charges 2900.00 for general, 350 for a nerve block, and 400 to use an ultra sound machine for 3 minutes for a total of 3650. Now the insurance company agreement allows for 989 for general, 124 for nerve block, and 89 for the ultra sound. for a total of 2003.
Now if you have to pay cash you pay full price. Obviously the doctor and hospital are not going to be bankrupt charging the lower fees to the insurance companies, because those that pay cash probably offset it a little. Why not have the government regulate the amount the can charge and set the rate at:
1200 for general
147 for the nerve block
110 for the ultra sound
Now every individual pays that amount if the pay cash, or if they have insurance the insurance company pays the same.
That is the extent of the Government involvement, they just set the price for a procedure across the board.
I think this would significantly lower health care cost, or at least control any rise in cost.