Reply #29: Previously posted (but i got NO response)

[cbayer]

The system is sick on so many levels.

And since each party blames the other, I can't see how it can be fixed without a complete overhaul (which should have been done years ago).

1) Doctors and hospitals aren't changing their practices and procedures fast enough despite convincing evidence that things need to change drastically (see http://www.ihi.org/IHI/Programs/Campaign /). This feeds #4.

2)Medical insurance companies are mostly for profit entities who are beholden to their stockholders and executives.

3)Medical malpractice insurance companies - ditto to number 2.

4)The legal system is out of control in terms of the kinds and numbers of malpractice suits filed by trial lawyers ("Has your loved one died in a nursing home? If so, call me! I'll get you the money you deserve") and the awards granted by juries. This leads to defensive medicine which feeds #1 and #5.

5)The general public believes that everyone should have everything even if it is futile, has no evidence to back it up or there are less expensive alternatives, which feeds #1 and #4.

6)The government run system is so poorly run that it pretty much feeds all of the others, is going bankrupt and makes it very difficult to embrace a single payer system that would be run like the system is run now.

And since none of these parties are willing to take the risks involved in making substantial changes in the system, it just gets worse and worse.

So, who do you think has the best plan to fix this disaster? This is not a rhetorical question. I really want to know.