Comments on: Medicare Cuts Foreshadow Single-Payer Health Care http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/ Cleaning the Augean Stables of the Health Care Debate Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:39:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Catron http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5189 Catron Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:34:12 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5189 Scott, I think you're right on the money. If those people had any idea what it's like dealing with Medicare on a day-to-day basis, they would be singing a different tune (the honest ones, anyway). Scott, I think you’re right on the money. If those people had any idea what it’s like dealing with Medicare on a day-to-day basis, they would be singing a different tune (the honest ones, anyway).

]]> By: Catron http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5187 Catron Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:23:55 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5187 I've been in the hospital biz for more than 20 years. If that's not good enough, you'll have to do your own research. I’ve been in the hospital biz for more than 20 years. If that’s not good enough, you’ll have to do your own research.

]]> By: Matt http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5184 Matt Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:27:30 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5184 Forgive me, but I'll need a source for that claim - and what are the beds. Oddly, you mentioned nothing about limiting it to acute care in your original post. Are you "refining" that claim? Forgive me, but I’ll need a source for that claim - and what are the beds. Oddly, you mentioned nothing about limiting it to acute care in your original post. Are you “refining” that claim?

]]> By: Scott http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5181 Scott Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:59:36 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5181 "Medicare is, for all intents and purposes, “single-payer for seniors.” Indeed, “Medicare for all” is the battle cry of many single-payer advocates. Well, the system they want for everyone is already vitiating the care of seniors." The whole Medicare / Medicaid system is the main reason why I have not jumped onto the "Medicare for all / single payor" bandwagon. I would bet that most of the single payor advocates have never been on the reimbursement end of Medicare / Medicaid. “Medicare is, for all intents and purposes, “single-payer for seniors.” Indeed, “Medicare for all” is the battle cry of many single-payer advocates. Well, the system they want for everyone is already vitiating the care of seniors.”

The whole Medicare / Medicaid system is the main reason why I have not jumped onto the “Medicare for all / single payor” bandwagon.

I would bet that most of the single payor advocates have never been on the reimbursement end of Medicare / Medicaid.

]]> By: Catron http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5165 Catron Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:53:35 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5165 Marc, only wackjobs like Ron Paul advocate eliminating Medicare and Medicaid. Those of us from Earth are pushing for the more reality-based goal of deregulation. Also, you risk looking like a flibbertigibbet when you suggest eliminating these programs while clinging to the alleged neceesity for the current, hopelessly cumbersome FDA process. Marc, only wackjobs like Ron Paul advocate eliminating Medicare and Medicaid. Those of us from Earth are pushing for the more reality-based goal of deregulation.

Also, you risk looking like a flibbertigibbet when you suggest eliminating these programs while clinging to the alleged neceesity for the current, hopelessly cumbersome FDA process.

]]> By: Catron http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5164 Catron Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:44:20 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5164 <em>And many new hospitals have opened. What’s the net?</em> The net is about a 15% reduction in acute care hospitals snce 1990. This comes at a time when demand, largely due to an aging patient base, is steadily increasing. And many new hospitals have opened. What’s the net?

The net is about a 15% reduction in acute care hospitals snce 1990. This comes at a time when demand, largely due to an aging patient base, is steadily increasing.

]]> By: Marc Brown http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5160 Marc Brown Tue, 07 Aug 2007 09:11:14 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5160 'For all your criticism of single payer, you’ve yet to offer concrete solutions, just vague talk about the “free market”' Yes - the agenda he directed me to doesn't look much of a capitalist mainfesto to me - see http://freemarketcure.com/whatshouldbedone.php it doesn't advocate abolishing Medicare/aid, which would surely be the case for a true free marketer, and also I guess he doesn't want to abolish the NIH, NCI etc. All it looks like is adjustments to your insurance system, with nothing at all about improving access to primary and acute care for the less well off. As for cutting back on FDA safety procedures, this is truly shocking given recent problems in some fast track appovals - and surely the answer to high drug prices lies in free market access to global suppliers and to generics! ‘For all your criticism of single payer, you’ve yet to offer concrete solutions, just vague talk about the “free market”’

Yes - the agenda he directed me to doesn’t look much of a capitalist mainfesto to me - see http://freemarketcure.com/whatshouldbedone.php

it doesn’t advocate abolishing Medicare/aid, which would surely be the case for a true free marketer, and also I guess he doesn’t want to abolish the NIH, NCI etc.

All it looks like is adjustments to your insurance system, with nothing at all about improving access to primary and acute care for the less well off.

As for cutting back on FDA safety procedures, this is truly shocking given recent problems in some fast track appovals - and surely the answer to high drug prices lies in free market access to global suppliers and to generics!

]]> By: Matt http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5144 Matt Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:36:35 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5144 "Many American hospitals have already closed as a result of Medicare and Medicaid “cost control” measures" And many new hospitals have opened. What's the net? This claim is pretty weak, without knowing more about the financial management of the hospital and the number of overall beds for the Detroit population. For all your criticism of single payer, you've yet to offer concrete solutions, just vague talk about the "free market". In fact, the only solution I've seen you give is that Medicare should pay more. Got anything any more detailed than that? “Many American hospitals have already closed as a result of Medicare and Medicaid “cost control” measures”

And many new hospitals have opened. What’s the net? This claim is pretty weak, without knowing more about the financial management of the hospital and the number of overall beds for the Detroit population.

For all your criticism of single payer, you’ve yet to offer concrete solutions, just vague talk about the “free market”. In fact, the only solution I’ve seen you give is that Medicare should pay more. Got anything any more detailed than that?

]]> By: Marc Brown http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5141 Marc Brown Mon, 06 Aug 2007 21:14:37 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5141 What about this: http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=364437 What about this:

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=364437

]]> By: Catron http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5137 Catron Mon, 06 Aug 2007 20:35:00 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/08/06/medicare-cuts-foreshadow-single-payer-health-care/#comment-5137 The <em>Science Daily </em>piece refers to a study by a well-known single-payer evangelist. It is anything but objective. Even so, it states that "the average duration of a visit was about 10 percent longer in the US” compared to New Zealand and Australia. The Science Daily piece refers to a study by a well-known single-payer evangelist. It is anything but objective.

Even so, it states that “the average duration of a visit was about 10 percent longer in the US” compared to New Zealand and Australia.

]]>