Jun 30, 2009
Turning Tragedy into Catastrophe
A tragedy is what happens to somebody else. A catastrophe is what happens to everybody including us.
We have a health care problem that needs some new rules. For an individual family with serious illness bankrupted by medical bills it is a hardship and a tragedy.
But under the guise of “the system is broke” (for 85% of us it is not broke) and “we must do something” the government stands to turn tragedy into catastrophe. To improve the system for some they stand to make it worse for many.
The reason is simple. Government wishes to provide benefits without paying for them. In health care they simply dictate reimbursements and then shift the underpayment to the schmucks like us without the power of the government.
The government could simply subsidize health insurance for those who need it with vouchers, but then they would have to face the same market reality we all do. They would realize that much of the coverage mandated by ..ahem … the government has driven up their costs as well.
Choices will be made, whether by the market or by the government. Change is easy; choice is far more difficult.
I appreciate your comments on the changes to medical care being promoted as the result of a broken system. So, what has broken the system. Many have missed the reasons health care costs have increased at inordinate rates compared to inflation. I believe there are two: 1). Innovation and 2). Government Meddling.
Innovation: Who can deny that the US medical industry is constantly making giant strides in improving medical devices, procedures, drugs, equipment, etc. No other country enjoys the fruits of such efforts. There are development costs associated with such improvements – and perhaps some "just" reward for those investing in this development. I, for one, would like to see this development continue. Meanwhile, the pay to medical professionals administering this care has not increased at an alarming rate. I know how much money several doctors make – they are relatives – and their pay is not even close to the pay of other with similar investments in their profession.
Regarding overnment meddling: I don't think we could possibly count the ways but the worst issue is the fact that health care payments for care given to special groups are controlled by the government.
And, insurance companies likewise are setting payment standards.
The costs associated with providing care must be paid somehow. Billing for those costs has increased in an effort to shift those costs to patients who don't have the government or insurance companies dictating what will be paid, thereby, making those billing costs extrordinarily high.
Who hasn't seen a response from and insurance company on a claim where a very large portion of the billing is "not covered" as a reasonable and customary cost. The amounts "not covered" are unbelievable.
And, who isn't aware that doctors don't like to "control" their patient workload to assure they have an adequate number of "paying patients" and not too many mediare patients. The reason: the government won't pay the billed cost. The cost gets moved to the paying patients – the result of this drives the billing costs upward.
The cost is there to support the billing, so who pays it? The answer is: the patient – from their personal bank accounts.
So, our citizenry, in their quest for relief look to the government. Instead of asking for help, they need to invite them to leave the medical care professionals alone and take those who should be capable of working and supporting themselves off the "dole" of government care. But, this the goverment wont' do because they want the "vote" of those on the dole.
Wayne Middleton