The best piece of journalism about single payer that I've ever seen

[cali]

<snip>

Of course, there is strong opposition to switching to single payer, not the least of which comes from Ethan Allen Institute, which bills itself as a free-market think tank.

John McClaughry, President of the institute, contends that advocates for a single-payer system rely on three arguments -- that health care is a human right and that there is evident dissatisfaction with the operation and financing current system.

<sniP>


Opponents say they don’t want the government running our health care system.

The truth: Other universal health care systems are not controlled by bureaucrats but instead by a public trust.


<snip>

Death rates in for-profit hospitals are higher than in nonprofits, according to a study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, which concluded the reason is for-profit hospitals must cut corners "in order to achieve a profit margin for investors, as well as to pay high salaries for administrators."

<snip>

http://www.reformer.com/ci_17704193?source=most_emailed

[midnight]

1. For profit vs nonprofit..... They both make money...

Does greed override quality?

[Cal33]

5. Making a good salary is one thing. Trying to become a billionaire

on the backs of sick people is something else.
When greed happens, it ALWAYS overrides quality.

[patrice]

7. Even non-profits can have silos in their organization that protect the status quo instead of quality

[fasttense]

2. I'm really surprised how honored and respected doctors and medical people are.

Considering that they or their management are making huge profits off of the sick and dying. It's exploiting the most vulnerable people in our society. Health insurance CEOs are the lowest of the low.

[Cal33]

6. Yes, I've noticed how many doctors know nothing of the "bed-side manner"

that the doctors of old used to have. To many doctors of today,
patients are more like specimens in a lab. Younger doctors pride
themselves on being scientists. Also, time is money to them.
You can't help but get the feeling that they want you out of
their office as quickly as possible, so that they can get to the
next patient. Isn't this your experience, too? Of course, doctors
who do this are also impoverishing their own lives of positive and
healthy experiences.

The personal relationship between doctor and patient is practically
non-existent nowadays.

Yes, things have degenerated in so many areas of life -- good
things that can't be replaced by making more money.

[Scuba]

3. Greed does trump quality, starting....

...with for-profit health insurance companies skimming lavish profits and ridiculous CEO salaries off the top of each health care dollar - without contributing in any meaningful way to the delivery of said care.

For-profit specialty hospitals, particularly in cardiac care, are cherry-picking the easiest cases (hey, all Medicare cases are reimbursed the same for the same diagnosis/therapy) and leaving the tough (read: expensive) cases to the non-profit hospitals, almost all of which are now struggling financially.

The most expensive piece of equipment in a hospital is a physician's pen. Docs get reimbursed for the work they do - whether it's necessary or not. Many do not succumb to greed to maximize their reimbursement; sadly, some do.


Finally, as for the "I don't want the government..." argument, I'll add this (not original) : "I'd rather my medical decisions be made by some bureaucrat in Washington who doesn't care if I die, than by some bureaucrat in an insurance company whose job depends on it."

[rurallib]

4. K&R - coming back later today to re-read.

[xchrom]

8. recommend