Of course, this represents a challenge to Medicare for all. We’ve got these entrenched wealthy corporations extracting everything they can from healthcare transactions. If England is any model (and I understand there’s is a national health program where physicians are employed by the Government funded healthcareCorporation – the NHS) The health system Has to hit rock bottom before change is going to occur. We should still try but the larger the organization The few were pressure points. I think Medicare for all is critical to the nations health but given our profit oriented system it’s hard to figure out how to move forward. I sound like Debbie downer this morning (the rain?) But I have been struggling with this problem for a while. Thoughts?
I think you’re absolutely right, Susan. With consolidation comes profit consolidation, which increases lobbying power and incentive. It’s a real challenge.
Abdul— I could not help asking whether or not the logical outcome of the consolidation of hospitals becomes the nationalization of hospitals or universal hospitalization?
Greg - this is an interesting thought. As hospitals consolidate and increase their profit margins, I worry that means that they'll be able to leverage more of that accumulated wealth to drive their political goals--and we'll see MORE of the lobbying that corrupts our system. But...time will tell!
Abdul-your concerns are certainly correct based on the historical trends and without a public or universal hospitalization plan and health care system, I see no reason for why these trends would change. I was just being my "academic" self and imagining an utopian "end game" where the system of hospitals from coast to coast, etc. have become fully monopolized or have become one great monopoly system without any competition left at all and where the need for cheating, corruption, etc becomes an unnecessary expense for conducting business. At such a point, it then makes sense to nationalize or to do away with health care profits altogether, which should then reverse the trends, lowering the costs and improving the services, as we transition to a system of hospitals and health care based on human need and sustainability rather than on profitabilities of scale. Of course, why wait for the end game to play out, since we already know that the not for profit (and for profit) universal health care systems of the world work better than our combination of systems, private and public, do. Hence, Medicare for All, now.
Of course, this represents a challenge to Medicare for all. We’ve got these entrenched wealthy corporations extracting everything they can from healthcare transactions. If England is any model (and I understand there’s is a national health program where physicians are employed by the Government funded healthcareCorporation – the NHS) The health system Has to hit rock bottom before change is going to occur. We should still try but the larger the organization The few were pressure points. I think Medicare for all is critical to the nations health but given our profit oriented system it’s hard to figure out how to move forward. I sound like Debbie downer this morning (the rain?) But I have been struggling with this problem for a while. Thoughts?
I think you’re absolutely right, Susan. With consolidation comes profit consolidation, which increases lobbying power and incentive. It’s a real challenge.
Now it’s Beaumont and Spectrum..maybe a chance to call attention to the consolidation ..
Abdul— I could not help asking whether or not the logical outcome of the consolidation of hospitals becomes the nationalization of hospitals or universal hospitalization?
Greg - this is an interesting thought. As hospitals consolidate and increase their profit margins, I worry that means that they'll be able to leverage more of that accumulated wealth to drive their political goals--and we'll see MORE of the lobbying that corrupts our system. But...time will tell!
Abdul-your concerns are certainly correct based on the historical trends and without a public or universal hospitalization plan and health care system, I see no reason for why these trends would change. I was just being my "academic" self and imagining an utopian "end game" where the system of hospitals from coast to coast, etc. have become fully monopolized or have become one great monopoly system without any competition left at all and where the need for cheating, corruption, etc becomes an unnecessary expense for conducting business. At such a point, it then makes sense to nationalize or to do away with health care profits altogether, which should then reverse the trends, lowering the costs and improving the services, as we transition to a system of hospitals and health care based on human need and sustainability rather than on profitabilities of scale. Of course, why wait for the end game to play out, since we already know that the not for profit (and for profit) universal health care systems of the world work better than our combination of systems, private and public, do. Hence, Medicare for All, now.