Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Collaborators
Dealing with the enemy
According to the New York Times, "The new health care law encourages collaboration by doctors and hospitals for cost savings, but a split has developed here as to just how far they can go without running afoul of antitrust laws." Without "vigorous antitrust enforcement," the Federal Trade Commission is worried that the "new alliances of health care providers could reduce competition and increase costs to consumers." While such collusion happens all the time, Pres. Obama's antitrust lawyer feels "the commission has demonstrated unreasonable skepticism toward collaboration by health care providers.� You know, because doctors aren't in it for the money.
Before Medicare
After Medicare
After Medicare and Tort  Law Champerty
Doctor:  I normally charge $65 for that procedure Mrs. Jones.

Mrs. Jones.  Oh , Dr., that's  ... well we just don't have that kind of money.

Doctor:  Well what can you afford dear?
Doctor: The procedure will cost $150.

Mrs. Jones: Is that covered by insurance?

Doctor:Yes

Doctor: The procedure will cost  $200.  Here's the name of a specialist who will perform the procedure.
Ipso facto the Social Security Act of 1965, Medicare to you, did just that, made collaborators of physicians nationwide.   The "minimum wage" established for medical procedures destroyed any competition in health care, and we're feeling the results today.  As is always the case when government meddles in people's lives, huge problems eventuate which are corrected by .. yes, the very asshats who created the problem.  Are you listening Ted?  Or is the crackling brimstone drowning me out?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's the pRegressive's method

1) identify a 'problem"
2) pass a law to "fix" it only making matters worse
3) pass another law to "fix" that
MM

Anonymous said...

Know how old I am? I once received a house call...

Laurence

Rodger the Real King of France said...

Ditto. Name was Dr. Finney, who not only delivered me (in a hospital) but made house calls fr everything. I never saw the inside of a Dr.'s office until I was about 7. And this was Chicago! NOBODY had health insurance.

DonM said...

Back in nineteen fifty something I used to ride with my Dad as he did house calls from one Iowa farm to another. People called him Doctor Don and when he took payment for his services it was in bushels of corn or a couple of chickens or whatever. He did receive a pig one time and the trip home in the car was quite eventful with windows open and all the squealing.

Post a Comment

Just type your name and post as anonymous if you don't have a Blogger profile.