http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/11/08/rising-health-care-spending-a-good-thing/ Cleaning the Augean Stables of the Health Care Debate Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:10:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/11/08/rising-health-care-spending-a-good-thing/#comment-10209 drmatt Fri, 09 Nov 2007 20:21:16 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/11/08/rising-health-care-spending-a-good-thing/#comment-10209 yes, medical doctor, and you likely someone who works with numbers? Health care is tricky, and you are absolutley right that there is a person to person value and negotiating quality versus quantity, which in my office and (economically) I can see two very medically, demographicaly similar people and do two very different things to come up with two very different (hopefully equally satisfying) outcomes. yes, medical doctor, and you likely someone who works with numbers? Health care is tricky, and you are absolutley right that there is a person to person value and negotiating quality versus quantity, which in my office and (economically) I can see two very medically, demographicaly similar people and do two very different things to come up with two very different (hopefully equally satisfying) outcomes.

]]> http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/11/08/rising-health-care-spending-a-good-thing/#comment-10190 Matt Horn Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:50:25 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/11/08/rising-health-care-spending-a-good-thing/#comment-10190 Those are great observations drmatt. I think we really need to look at the preventitive dollar and the economics of that dollar to find and accurate snapshot. When a person is healthy, they tend to take it for granted. I am assuming that you are a medical doctor, so you probably see this daily. This all is represented when you look at a marginal utility curve and how each person sits on that curve. With the law of diminishing marginal utility and the history of medical science, we can safely say that no matter how much we spend on healthcare, all our bodies will fail at one time or another and they will eventually fail terminally. With perfect information, utility curves can describe fairly accurately an individual's decision making. If they see a higher value in one curve than another, they will likely choose the higher curve. All these curves are completely relative to the individual. I could look at Michael Moore and say he would probably get more value out of an excersize and diet regimen, however he may see more value in sitting at his desk or in front of a reviewing screen going over ideas for a new project. That also supports your assertion that longer doesn't mean better. If he had persued a diet and excersize regimen, he may not have had time to make his films and would have less enjoyment out of his life. Those are great observations drmatt. I think we really need to look at the preventitive dollar and the economics of that dollar to find and accurate snapshot. When a person is healthy, they tend to take it for granted. I am assuming that you are a medical doctor, so you probably see this daily. This all is represented when you look at a marginal utility curve and how each person sits on that curve. With the law of diminishing marginal utility and the history of medical science, we can safely say that no matter how much we spend on healthcare, all our bodies will fail at one time or another and they will eventually fail terminally. With perfect information, utility curves can describe fairly accurately an individual’s decision making. If they see a higher value in one curve than another, they will likely choose the higher curve. All these curves are completely relative to the individual. I could look at Michael Moore and say he would probably get more value out of an excersize and diet regimen, however he may see more value in sitting at his desk or in front of a reviewing screen going over ideas for a new project. That also supports your assertion that longer doesn’t mean better. If he had persued a diet and excersize regimen, he may not have had time to make his films and would have less enjoyment out of his life.

]]> http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/11/08/rising-health-care-spending-a-good-thing/#comment-10117 drmatt Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:13:50 +0000 http://www.healthcarebs.com/2007/11/08/rising-health-care-spending-a-good-thing/#comment-10117 If we were to spend more money on "good health and a longer life" the increase of the GDP would go to weight loss, gym memberships and healthier food. Most of the health care dollar is spent when sick, which happens when you "dont" spend on those other things. As far as a "substantially longer life" as compared to who? note, longer doesnt mean better. If we were to spend more money on “good health and a longer life” the increase of the GDP would go to weight loss, gym memberships and healthier food. Most of the health care dollar is spent when sick, which happens when you “dont” spend on those other things. As far as a “substantially longer life” as compared to who? note, longer doesnt mean better.

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