Conservatives, what do you think should be done to fix the healthcare problem? (drug, lawyers)

[Zhang Fei]

Originally Posted by shorebaby

I agree the government should pay market rate instead of dictating reimbursement. It causes private pay patients to have to pick up the shortfall to keep the system going.

I think the solution is for Congress to legislate that medical providers charge the same prices for the same medical procedures to all comers.

[shorebaby]

Originally Posted by ozzie679

Can you imagine how expensive insurance premiums would be without Medicare Medicare is the dumping ground for the elderly and sick.
Private insurance companies need Medicare to be profitable at the current rates.

Ummm Medicare is on the verge of insolvency, their rates are not high enough. If elderly were in the private insurance pool we wouldn't be on the hook for this mess. Medicare simply kicking the can down the road.

[ozzie679]

Originally Posted by shorebaby

Ummm Medicare is on the verge of insolvency, their rates are not high enough. If elderly were in the private insurance pool we wouldn't be on the hook for this mess. Medicare simply kicking the can down the road.

Exactly why Medicare can't pay market rates

[shorebaby]

Originally Posted by Zhang Fei

I think the solution is for Congress to legislate that medical providers charge the same prices for the same medical procedures to all comers.

Only if they legislate that government cannot mandate pricing, this mandate frequently causes providers to operate at a loss.

[harborlady]

Originally Posted by Glitch

Here are four simple steps that would help reform the current system:

1. Let families and businesses buy health insurance across state lines.
2. Allow individuals, small businesses, and trade associations to pool together and acquire health insurance at lower prices, the same way large corporations and labor unions do.
3. Give states the tools to create their own innovative reforms that lower health care costs.
4. End junk lawsuits that contribute to higher health care costs by increasing the number of tests and procedures that physicians sometimes order not because they think it's good medicine, but because they are afraid of being sued.

For more information about some of the other common-sense health care reforms proposed by Republicans, see the following links below:

• Empowering Patients First Act (Republican Study Committee Health Care Reform Bill, introduced July 30, 2009)
• Improving Health Care for All Americans Act (Shadegg Health Care Reform Bill, introduced July 14, 2009)
• Medical Rights & Reform Act (Kirk-Dent Health Care Reform Bill, introduced June 16, 2009)
• Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act (Gingrey medical liability reform bill, introduced June 6, 2009)
• Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2009 (Johnson small business health plans bill, introduced May 21, 2009)
• Promoting Health and Preventing Chronic Disease through Prevention and Wellness Programs for Employees, Communities, and Individuals Act of 2009 (Castle Wellness & Prevention Bill, introduced July 31, 2009)
• Improved Employee Access to Health Insurance Act of 2009 (Deal auto-enrollment bill, introduced October 15, 2009)
• Health Insurance Access for Young Workers and College Students Act of 2009 (Blunt bill to improve health insurance coverage of dependents, introduced October 21, 2009)

Now when others claim Republicans have only obstructed the process to reform health care insurance, you will know without any doubt that they are lying.

THANK YOU Glitch. This is more like it. I leveled that charge and called them empty handed because 90% of everything out of right wing (on forum, in print, on TV) is hate speech. Y'all spend more time attacking anything not yourselves than putting forth options. Conservative view was absent.

I read these. I have some problems with aspects of them but I won't debate the fine points. I'm just glad I'm hearing sober for a change. Reps to you.

[ozzie679]

Originally Posted by Zhang Fei

I think the solution is for Congress to legislate that medical providers charge the same prices for the same medical procedures to all comers.

I don't like that idea at all.

[shorebaby]

Originally Posted by ozzie679

Exactly why Medicare can't pay market rates

No Medicare dictates pricing to providers frequently at a loss for the operator which causes an artificially inflated market rate (providers have to make it up somewhere or go out of business).

[ozzie679]

Originally Posted by shorebaby

No Medicare dictates pricing to providers frequently at a loss for the operator which causes an artificially inflated market rate (providers have to make it up somewhere or go out of business).

Ah ya...I already said they don't pay market rates

[GOPATTA2D]

First thing I propose is that everybody take a pause and do a little basic math. A typical middle income earner contributes about $40k to Medicare over his lifetime. That includes the employer match. It is simply not a substainable program. Let's address this issue before proposing to expand it as a fix for millions more.

[shorebaby]

Originally Posted by ozzie679

Ah ya...I already said they don't pay market rates

And if they did market rates would come down.