12-04-2015, 07:47 PM
(12-04-2015, 06:53 PM)StLucieBengal Wrote: Single payer locks down prices at the federal level .
My suggestion allows local markets to set their prices. So low income areas pay less. Doctors will get what people are willing to pay .
A doctors charges $100 (made up number) for a visit now because they can ... I they can get that much under my proposal then they will charge it. If they can only get $20 then they need more customers.
Doctors are people and people want to make the most money they can. It will come down to what people are willing to pay. That's why I mentioned concierge medicine above. You pay like a club fee and then get discounted rates. It's almost like the doctor is insuring you to an extent. What happens when he insures you..... He doesn't waste money on useless tests or medicines.
Low income areas are underserved areas. Low income areas which pay less will see their doctors migrate to areas which pay more and new doctors avoiding underserved, low income areas altogether. This will send the low income areas without doctors to the EDs further exacerbating the inappropriate use of the ED for routine care to receive care they can't pay for and the debt burden will be shifted upon the tax payer. I don't waste money on tests and medicines now. More than likely, I'm arguing with an insurance adjuster to pay for the test I did order which they don't want to pay for. More often than not, I'm arguing with the patient not to order a test or prescribe a medication which they don't need.
