Interesting article by economist Bill Freeza. He says that its not a lack of will but pure economics that prevents the government from "fixing" health care.
You have to follow his analogy of setting an artificial price on a ham sandwich to understand why the government determining prices for health care services just does not work.
Agree. or disagree, it is an interesting view.

http://www.realclearmarkets.com/printpage/?url=http://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2010/02/15/why_washington_cant_reform_healthcare_97634.html

Food for thought.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

the truth keeps some awfull quiet


INAPPROPRIATE
B.C.

As does artificial ham , but not you being full of baloney and all.

I was hopping for some thoughtful discussion instead of the knee-jerk reactions we normally post.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

word play i love it -- come on the artical is an opinion like yours about baloney

Discussion can't get much more thoughtful than that, right? Might as well close it on up.

By using the term 'fixing' are you implying that the goverment can't repair the health care system, can't set the prices of health care, or, in a Southwestern use of the term 'fixi'n', the government can't start to do anything with health care?

If you are using the term fix as in 'set the price'....

Why can't the Government fix the price of health care? Insurance companies don't seem to have any trouble doing it.

As far as anyone fixing the prices for anything.... I think that ruins competiton, but as long as health insurance companies are exempt from anti-trust laws they will continue to fix the price of health care in the US.

instead of a post critique what do you have to say about the subject

I am no economist, but I think that is the point of the article. the price IS set by the government, via what they pay for MediCare coverage. That creates an artificial price, and does not allow any incentive to find lower cost alternatives.
At least I think that is his argument.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

I keep hearing people talk about 'starting all over' on the health care thing.

This seems rather complicated to me, but if that's the way it is then I suggest....

Passing the existing health care bill just as it is.

Starting the entire health care system over to line up with the health care bill.

See? Now, was that so hard?

Certainly. I live in a state that has had near universal coverage required by law for several decades. It's great. Limbaugh loved it when he was here. According to numerous surveys, the residents of this state, under this healthcare program benefit from early detection of disease, preventive care and ERs that are not overcrowded.

It's not a perfect system but we have seen the benefits of near universal coverage and it would be hard to go backwards.

Dog the Bounty Hunter Explains it All

Well there is no existing Bill; there are two, very different Bills. One in the Senate, and one in the House.
The dems are talking about passing the Senate Bill on reconciliation ( only 51 votes needed), having the House agree, and the President to sign it. Then both the House and Senate pass amendments to satisfy their members.
If they do such a thing ( and it is within the rules), I think the backlash would literally sweep most democrats up for election out of office this November. It would add fuel to precisely the main reason for the Tea Party Movement--an unresponsive, arrogant federal government that ignores the will of the people.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

I say pass 'em both and let the billing department at the hospital figure it out. They never seem to know what they are doing anyway, so it would not make much difference!

Uh....

I think the main reason for the Tea Party Movement is funding and exposure. It is a bit more complicated than that of course, but, like the Reform Party, it could have never gotten started without some very good orginazation and lots of cash on hand.

Hawaii is also an incredibly expensive place to live. Lots of outside money flowing in. How well would that health care model transfer to places like Mississippi or Arkansas?

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
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2005 Toyota Sienna
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1999 Toyota Tacoma