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twitr_patter

(1 post)
30. if only the report were correct...
Fri Aug 2, 2013, 10:40 PM
Aug 2013

Existing Medicare patients cannot easily find a doctor in many cities because Medicare doesn't pay enough to make it worthwhile for the doctor to treat them. Some of you I am sure think the solution to that is to force the doctors to treat them. Such coercion is illegal, but don't let that stop you. Consider instead the huge difference between what the government promised with Obamacare - rates will go down, you can keep your doctor, etc - and it turns out those things (and lots of others) aren't true. Also consider the excellent record of the Veterans Administration hospitals. It's true the VA isn't killing as many patients these days as they used to, but then it's been a long time since we've seen articles complimenting the VA on good care. Think about this. Drop a lot of new patients on a medical system which is already short doctors. Pay the doctors less to treat them. Do you seriously think that will result in wonderful medicine? How long are you prepared to wait for an appointment - which is the problem with medicine in Europe and Canada. People smart enough to be doctors are smart enough to do something that pays more than medicine in those places, and that's what will happen here. The proposed system is expected to "save" 592 billion dollars. From where is that money coming? Hospitals? Doctors? They're going to add 44 million new patients, chop over a half-trillion from current spending, and have money left over. Yep - that seems logical to me - especially given how wonderfully the Obamacare program is rolling out. Health care is a legitimate issue, and legitimate issues require legitimate solutions. Adding tens of millions of patients and cutting a half-trillion in spending isn't likely to be such a solution.

The article mentions similar studies dating back to the early 90s. Same results. Blaukraut Aug 2013 #1
Yet, nothing has been done to expand Medicare? airplaneman Aug 2013 #55
Back in 2004, a young and apparently quite inspired truedelphi Aug 2013 #2
He disafuckingpeared. Enthusiast Aug 2013 #4
Yes. area51 Aug 2013 #8
Not disagreeing with you, but it started in Saskatchewan and spread Kennah Aug 2013 #48
It was a mirage. duffyduff Aug 2013 #11
I'd vote for that guy. progressoid Aug 2013 #15
He woke up to the reality that is congress. Egnever Aug 2013 #38
We couldn't escape the numerology of 219-60-5 Kennah Aug 2013 #49
That DLC Party line is so tired truedelphi Aug 2013 #50
Thanks. K & R. n/t pnwmom Aug 2013 #3
K&R Sherman A1 Aug 2013 #5
Medicare for All’ would cover everyone, cost insurance companies billions in first year: new study Wilms Aug 2013 #6
+1000 Melissa G Aug 2013 #19
K&R Scuba Aug 2013 #7
R#40 & K for, who's got the history about who was LBJ's healthcare guru for MediCARE? UTUSN Aug 2013 #9
SSA and then HCFA BumRushDaShow Aug 2013 #12
Thnx!1 n/t UTUSN Aug 2013 #13
K&R Another stone to place on top the mountain we've built over decades. n/t Egalitarian Thug Aug 2013 #10
It seems like it would be good for 2014 campaign optics, if nothing else. Gidney N Cloyd Aug 2013 #14
Medicare part "E" - E for Everyone yodermon Aug 2013 #16
I think Thom Hartmann started that one eridani Aug 2013 #56
DURec leftstreet Aug 2013 #17
Two of the biggest leech industries ever created Rex Aug 2013 #18
Medicare for all Bunnahabhain Aug 2013 #28
But how will the insurance companies afford gold lobby statuary? DirkGently Aug 2013 #20
wish we lived in a political / corporate world that would allow that to happen spanone Aug 2013 #21
And that is precisely WHY... bvar22 Aug 2013 #22
I would get down on my knees and pray that this happens in my lifetime BrotherIvan Aug 2013 #23
Yep, there's a reason that almost all other developed countries . . . MrModerate Aug 2013 #24
Are we ready for the US government to negotiate drug prices? Bunnahabhain Aug 2013 #25
Yes. Expanding and improving coverage for all Americans outweighs any bad negotiating. LonePirate Aug 2013 #26
"Bad negotiating" is not an unintended consequence Bunnahabhain Aug 2013 #27
That's assuming the bad negotiating happens. It may not. LonePirate Aug 2013 #29
Was I unclear? Bunnahabhain Aug 2013 #31
Your unintended consequences stance is merely an argument against Medicare for All. LonePirate Aug 2013 #33
Why do you refuse to go find out what an unintended consequence is? Bunnahabhain Aug 2013 #34
I fully understand the term. I am simply rejecting any worst case scenarios based on them. LonePirate Aug 2013 #36
Post removed Post removed Aug 2013 #37
You asked if people wanted the government to negotiate drug prices. Let's follow that. LonePirate Aug 2013 #41
How can the government fail? Bunnahabhain Aug 2013 #44
You're the one not connecting with anything. You tossed out a hypothetical and refused to support it LonePirate Aug 2013 #47
After listening to the side effects on the teletube I avoid think Aug 2013 #53
if only the report were correct... twitr_patter Aug 2013 #30
Family in Europe, friends in Canada wait periods are less than mine in USA is with private ins. uppityperson Aug 2013 #43
There are lots of stories out creeksneakers2 Aug 2013 #45
Welcome to DU. Totally agree! I was amazed when so many truedelphi Aug 2013 #65
Sorry, no. That's not the plan. Obama has the ACA burnodo Aug 2013 #32
One doesn't ProSense Aug 2013 #40
despite your self-linking burnodo Aug 2013 #64
Facts that concern every single person in the U.S. = REC'D! Corruption Inc Aug 2013 #35
K + R GlashFordan Aug 2013 #39
This is good information, and ProSense Aug 2013 #42
Yeah, the funding changes would be challenging as no R would agree to any of them. LonePirate Aug 2013 #51
It's time for this. limpyhobbler Aug 2013 #46
OECD Health data is damning Kennah Aug 2013 #52
We might still get it but it will take many years Warpy Aug 2013 #54
ACA also allows states to implement single payer in 2017 eridani Aug 2013 #58
BS obxhead Aug 2013 #59
but but but obxhead Aug 2013 #57
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Aug 2013 #60
If only TPTB listened to THIS Friedman... RedCappedBandit Aug 2013 #61
K&R! K&R! K&R! n/t Lugnut Aug 2013 #62
Us Canuks figured that out decades ago ConcernedCanuk Aug 2013 #63
Eridani, thanks for never giving up on this suffragette Aug 2013 #66
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