Good article. I don't think any of the posts here considering the problems of our health care system had come from anyone inside.

I believe that one of the problems is as you note, the lack of focus on the patient, or the doctor/patient relationship.

All too often the main concern of drug companies, insurance companies, HMOs and other health providers is the bottom line. The primary focus being on pleasing share holders rather than patients.

The primary goal of any health care system should be the health and well being of citizens, not a high profit margin. How best to achieve the desired goal is an open question which, hoepfully will be addressed more thoroughly by the next federal administration.

Baritone

Both the Drug Companies and The Providers are participants in sham markets. They are both Private Monopolies, endorsed, capitalized and defended by the USA government, at the taxpayers expense and at the expense of patients. They are welfare recipients of the worst sort.

Unfortunately, the patients are thrown to the mercies of these openly manipulated market monopolies under the pretense of being "free to choose", which they are not. Which competing company shall I buy my Lipitor from?

Nevertheless, the "defend any and all corporations at any expense" types continue to defend a system which is far more expensive and bureaucratically cruel to supplicants than the worst imaginable type of publicly administered program.

I suspect it is far too late to make any suitable change or adjustment. We are doomed.

Bliffle,

I don't know that we are "doomed." However, the future of health care in this country is tenuous at best. It can trudge onward as it is, leaving a trail of broken lives behind while the HMOS, insurance and drug companies celebrate record earnings and pat each other on the back at share holder meetings, lifting high their champagne glasses in homage to their largess. I see these people as the true robber barons of our age.

However, if there is to be any significant change, the D.C. pols will have to be strong enough to overcome the powerful health care lobbies which have, and will continue, to wine and dine them, fill their campaign coffers and otherwise twist their arms, perhaps with promises of lucrative post-political jobs, to maintain the status quo, or at least to minimize the financial impact of whatever changes may be instituted.

Crap. Now that I think about it, you're right. We're doomed!

Baritone

not sure that we are "doomed", but otherwise agree with biffle's comments. health care is a series of interlocking cartels regulated, licensed and about 50pc funded by government.

further, while true that the pharm industry is profit oriented (indeed the most profitable industry in the country) it is difficult and imprecise to state that it is "capitalistic". its entire product line is government protected and enforced intellectual property.

few, if any, of the pharma companies could exist without these monopolies. suggesting that these companies could effectively manage a health care delivery system, unless it were monopolistic, i believe is misguided. but then again health care delivery is pretty much monopolistic.

the solution is to establish competition in all phases and portions of health care. unfortunately with pharma, insurance, hospital and physician 'support' of politicos the likelihood of that happening is essentially zero.

The only plausible scenario is that the people who really control the government, thru their lobbyists, the major US businesses and corporations, decide that it's worth their while to reduce employee overhead costs by foisting healthcare on the taxpayers. You'll hear them reciting chants about how they have to reduce employee costs to be competitive in international markets. In fact, you hear some of that now, i.e., the GM vs. Union negotiations that are on now.

If companies can foist some healthcare costs onto the taxpayers then, presumably, they can sell cars cheaper and sell more. That's the theory, but it probably isn't valid right now because, from what I've read, people buy a vehicle based on brand, not price. Whether it is old-fashioned brand loyalty or the perception of superior vehicle, people pick a brand and then go to a few dealers of that brand to get the best price. But they are not sensitive to relative prices among brands.

Anyway, GM is likely to go bankrupt anyhow, what with the kingsize bonuses to execs and unwarranted dividends to shareholders. The execs and shareholders are eating GMs seedcorn. Looks like death throes to me.

We're doomed.

Bliffle,

It's true. It's a bitch. We're all going to die!

B-tone

Lessee,

On one thread tonight we have people talking about "End Times," and on this one, we have others saying we're doomed.

Awright, which SOB spiked the Kool Aid???

Sheesh, people, it's not even Wednesday yet (well, for Stan it is); how're we gonna get through the week?

i had to stop reading above when it stated that the drug companies are looking for magic bullet cures.No they are not. Drug companies want to sell you drugs that you must continue to take for as long as possible to keep them on their cash rolls. healthy humans are drug companies worst enemy. Hello folks, why do you think it is called "The Health Care Industry"? Because we are all just sheep heading to slaughter with as much money pulled out of our pockets and given to shareholders as possible. Nobody is working on curing Aids, because the majority of people who have it are in countries that can't afford to pay for medication once it is fully developed and the drug companies can't get a high return on investment (if any) from people with not to mention have no money, but often times, don't even have clean drinking water.