Joseph,
Interesting and thought provoking. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.
The challenge that I see with looking at other countries (or they looking at us) is that we have different cultures, so must adjust our culture first. I think part of the mess we are seeing today is that messy process starting. We’ve done a good thing by messing up the previous Healthcare system, in my view. Not that I like what and how the change occurred, but not that it has, and hopefully in a Congress operating under regular order, the country can have a dialogue about how to continually improve what we’ve got.
First, how about we start simply. Feds cover ALL catastrophic costs. The my Far Right friends might support this and not sure why the left would disagree, unless that it might remove pressure for the full package. Pick the right number that solves the problem of pre-existing condidtions and removes much of the ambiguity in existing Risk Pools? Then make policies cross state lines. Certainly supported by those crazies (isn’t nationalization a form of this). Lastly, do something nationally about malpractice claims and some of the ridiculous settlements that happen out there. This as well would play well on the right and in the middle. Do you have any thoughts on what this might do to cost, affordability, and insurability?
We should also be providing better tools for individuals today to make better healthcare decisions, insured or not. When I go into MacDonalds, I get presented with just how bad that hamburger is. But when I go into my doctor, I get nothing. I don’t know what it will cost, I don’t know if I am being overcharged(and should just walk across to Burger King?), no clue about the quality of care I should expect, and I certainly don’t know what my options are.
These seem to be common sense ways of improving our care as we continue to discuss the role of government in our lives, and we work on improving the quality of our local, regional, and national government overall. These also seem to be inline with the concept of individual responsibility that has been a core part of our culture.
Andy
