Why More Competition Won’t Fix Healthcare

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The "supply and demand" theory that conservatives love so much does NOT work they way they say. Derivatives of utility and cost curves are not the values themselves. Furthermore, the whole thing is an APPROXIMATION. The variables are VECTORS not scalars. It does not work they way conservatives claim.

Renee Marie Jones of AZ 10:07PM August 14, 2012

According to Public Citizen 15% of doctors commit 85% of the malpractice.
In addition approximately 85% regardless of proof lose their malpractice suits. You only hear about outrageouos settlements because the news media reports the unusual not the common.
The doctor who committed malpractice on me, Dr. Peter Jannetta, was called a perjuror by the Pa Superior Court and nevertheless my lawyer, Michael Fishbein, of Levin, Fishbein, Sedran and Berman of Phila. forced me to settle for such a small amount that you the taxpayer are paying for my lifetime medical expenses (via medicare) resulting from the malpractice.
"We have little difficulty in concluding that Dr. Jannetta's testimony at deposition was different than, or inconsistent with, the testimony at trial." Levy v Jannetta, CCP Allegheny County, GD 81-7689; appeal -J. A370017/92 Levy v Jannetta et al, No. 00150 Pittsburgh, 1992. settled, 1995
The "crisis" does not exist. If medical societies and the state sanctioned these recidivist doctors there would be no 'crisis'.
Carol Jay Levy
author A PAINED LIFE, a chronic pain journey
member, cofounder with Linda Misek-Falkoff, PWPI, Persons With Pain International
member U.N. NGO group, Persons With Disabilities

Carol of PA 2:29PM December 25, 2009

It would seem to me that in order to facilitate competition, prices need to be posted. Doctor's need to post their prices, then consumers can make a judgement call.
Their insurance is not usually something they can change, so remove it as a middleman. Simply post the doctor's price and the insurance coverage amount.
Then the wal-mart of doctor's will appear. Sometimes you want cheap, sometimes you want quality.
I am sure healthcare provider's don't want to see this happen. They will be forced then to compete instead of colluding with each other. They don't want you to see what your purchasing, because you might go to another provider who is cheaper...
We need reform, but I don't think we've found the actual solution yet.

s of CA 3:20AM December 25, 2009

You cannot have competition when there are so few doctor's to go around.

David Cookson of MI 6:16PM December 24, 2009

What it basically comes down to for the healthcare system is the amount of doctor's that perform the surguries and so forth. But, the doctor's are being bombarded with so many law suit's that there are not a whole lot of doctor's wanting to wrangle with a law suit from those that sue them. There cost for medical malpractice insurance is so high that the medical profession is losing a lot of their doctor's to other area's of the world. It boils down to insurance, as crooked as the insurance companies are, the medical profession seems to be taking a turn for the worst. Insurance rates are the problem, not to mention the doctor's that perform their surgeries in an ill fashion. ?

David Cookson of MI 6:15PM December 24, 2009

the problem is politicans say what the people want to hear to get in then screw the people that put them there. the people are forgotten about once they are in office the best interest of the politician become his/her agenda a government by the people for the people is history unless we send the message otherwise

S of CA 4:13PM December 24, 2009

What we will get is a mandate to buy health insurance, and no public option to offer a cheaper alternative. The middle class will get no subsidies, so essentially this is a tax on them benefitting the government and insurance companies.
Now think, why would people not get health insurance? Maybe because they are either unemployed, underemployed, or their employer doesn't offer coverage. If they could afford to get it, they would buy it. So this mandate doesn't solve anything, it just fines cash strapped people without offering them a better alternative.
Why is this happening when the majority of people support a public option (according to polls all year)? Another poster had it right...big business. Tax payers got stuck with the tab to bail out wall street, now we are getting stuck with the tab to make the health industry richer.
What we really need is a strong public option. Otherwise our health will continue to be in the hands of companies which profit the most by denying claims as much as possible.

Rob of CA 3:13PM December 24, 2009

whether its (1)we have been trying to fix health care for years and now the President is rushing us to do something (well if you have been trying something for years and havent done a thing right, then yes somebody should hold your feet to the fire) (2)we cant afford to fix health care. we shouldnt pass the cost on to our children, we shouldnt go further into debt (well we can afford to rebuild other countries & help countries all over the world fight wars against drugs but cant help our own citizens) 3 this is the best your taxes are already help the poor people on food stamps dont let your taxes go to help them any more (now if thats not rich people scaring the middle class. nothing is certain but DEATH AND TAXES, if you think the democrats are miss using your taxes ask the Republican Party how much tax money have they spent on bombs or on weapons the military didnt want or need. then refused to send the body armor or fix the vehicles to help against road side bombs.
SCARE TACTICS, there is no perfect fix to healthcare but to do nothing is never a fix to anything

mrkbrown of GA 3:03PM December 24, 2009

I still believe that if we had tort reform, the cost the doctor's charge would lower at least some. Multi-million dollar lawsuits will not bring back a dead loved one. Doctor's are paying up to a quarter million dollars a year in mal-practice insurance. No wonder they charge us so much. I do agree that we need more doctors. Build a few more schools, teach a few more people ot be doctors, pay for their schooling if they will work in a free clinic for a while or at least part time for a longer while. Waiting a month to see a doctor for a health issue is ridiculous. By the time the appointment rolls around, you are either well or dead. Instead you go to the emergency room that charges 5 times the outrageous rate your family doctor charges. More doctors, less goverment for all.

dale of MI 2:52PM December 24, 2009

Socialism blows... I'm moving out of this "changed" country and taking all my money with me before the government freezes my funds and confiscates them for making crappy cars and rationed health care... Anyone of my generation (30 or younger) should be appalled, since we are the poor bastards who will actually have to pay for this idiocy.
Congrats to the Democratic party for setting all the precedents necessary for killing America's free market democracy. I wonder what will happen when they realize that their precious cost curve will bend in the wrong direction (expand). Price controls do not work. Period. By the way, when did health care costs cause a dip in the business cycle? The financial meltdown had nothing to do with health insurance. I just cringe when Obama throws that one out there from time to time. You may have gathered at this point... I study economics and finance, so these events make my blood boil.
If only economists figured out that Keynesian models are way to simplistic to actually work they would realize this. It's sad that Chicago politicians weren't content with just bankrupting a city in the coming years, they had to go for the jugular and bankrupt the nation.
For all those who wage moral arguments... While it may be true that helping the poor is moral, it should be up to those with morally sound conscience to make a point to donate to organizations which help the poor with health care costs (among other basic needs). If God gave mankind free will, that should be preserved rather than removed in favor of a moral system that is forced upon the populate. Besides, the US is the most charitable country in the world, and that is a fact. Don't worry though, that will end as soon as Democrats kill the charitable donation tax exemption clause in the tax code. Obama considered that within his first 100 days, its only a matter of time before it becomes "necessary change".
I suggest that anyone who disagrees with this post go and read Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" and turn to around page 1000... read the speech which begins with "This is John Galt speaking"...
It started with cars...
- Ben from Reality-Land

Ben of WI 2:47PM December 24, 2009