This morning's Washington Post click here for full article has a headline describing yet another closed door conference committee meeting whereby Republicans locked out Democrats (their democratically elected peers, representing millions of taxpayers) from any discussion on a major budget provision. The result: a $22 BILLION savings for the health care industry. This at a time when health care costs contiinue to rise every year. As someone that works in an industry with massive shifts in its revenue streams, I have to say that perhaps it's time for health care and government to start working up some new models oof business.
Our government can start by negotiating with drug companies and health care providers for better rates so that so many people don't have to go to Canada to get affordable medication. Then there's the idea of a national health care system that can be a leader, a catalyst, for real reform. Much is made of expensive government beurocracy, when in fact Medicare and Medicais are among the most efficient health care programs anywhere - far outpacing the private sector. It may have to do with not having CEOs making millions a year plus bonuses, even when a company loses money. Either way, for far too many of my friends, across all age groups, escalating health care costs are becomming the single biggest issue of their lives. If our GOP-led government wants to practive "family values" - how about making sure our families aren't splitting up over things like annual 15% increases in insurance costs.
Force the market to respond. I have every bit of expectation that by forcing new models to be developed we will see better coverage for fairer prices. American business are good at ingenuity, but slow to act on it. Give health care (and energy) industries a little incentive to change and we may have something to cheer about. I'm done. For now.
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