The Road Back to The Quality Doctor-Patient Thing

The ongoing healthcare debate in the United States is seldom discussed in relation to its parts, and often devolves into an endless “social obligation” guilt-fest and “universal rights” donnybrook.

Economist and Hoover Scholar Dr. Thomas Sowell defines “Healthcare”, separating economic necessity from social nuisance, and sets the record straight:

“The biggest of the big lies in the “health care” hype is 
that a lack of insurance means a lack of medical care. 
The second biggest lie is that health care 
and medical care are the same thing.”

“Doctors cannot stop you from ruining your health 
in a hundred different ways, so statistics on everything 
from infant mortality to AIDS are not proof of a need 
for government to take over medical treatment.” (1)

Focus should be given to solutions on practical issues like the economics of healthcare delivery, the fluid stream of medical exceptions that insurance companies wade in, and unfair Medicare penalties for physicians who remain in solo or small practices. Free market adjustments to the delivery of healthcare will lead to better and cheaper access to medical care. A few specifics can be implemented today; fixes that will make a real and useful difference, and these can be driven to the bank.

Unfettered Interstate Competition for Insurance Companies

In each state, despite the fact that insurers pay millions of dollars in “fees” annually to the state, in order to sell health insurance policies within the state. But this often guarantees a monopoly for the few that pay to play. Proposals to remove all interstate barriers to doing business for health insurers will ramp up competition in all states, and policy rates will fall. This is known as unfettered capitalism, which also serves to self-police the market for bad practices and inefficiencies ~ without government meddling.

Concentrate Buyer Advantage

Current health insurance plans have become plain unaffordable for individuals and small businesses that want to insure their employees. President Trump has proposed to allow small businesses to align, to negotiate lower health insurance rates, which are currently only available to big companies and organizations. Individuals should be allowed to do the same.

Re-Instate Catastrophic Policies

Young people utilize doctors and hospitals infrequently, inversely proportional to people over age 65. Some of the biggest utilizers of healthcare dollars are elderly smokers, the obese, and those who generally abuse their bodies. 30% of Medicare’s budget pays for individuals in the last 6 months of their lives. Young people seldom use the health system, and could save precious dollars by purchasing catastrophic insurance.   People of means can also save money with catastrophic policies; it’s a gamble that they can afford, because they can cover their costs to a point, but have a hedge against unexpected high-cost illness or injury.

Not free Medicine – Free Market

Medical care is expensive, but market influences should move prices, not the government.   No congressional fix for the ACA is in the offing, but small changes which could effect significant savings can be implemented. Three simple market maneuvers should be implemented, and there are many more. Most could easily be legislated, and are certain to make the market work for consumers/patients.

Author: Richard Anderson MD

Board Certified Neurosurgeon – Private Practice

(1) Sowell quote: https://www.creators.com/read/thomas-sowell/09/07/no-health-care