rsather139

Ok, I know this is a heated topic, but let's be civil, allright?

I think that the US needs to change the situation of its healthcare, but I also don't think that the European welfare state is the way to do it. What if the states were to have their own healthcare system for their state, run by the state government, and recieving some funding from the Federal level. I don't want another massive government agency screwing up, because right now the US Federal government isn't doing to well.

So what do you think? Any other viable ideas out there?

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BenBraxton

That is how Medicaid currently works, and in my experience, it is a disastrous waste of taxpayer money that does more harm than good to patients.

Why do you see a need for change? How about abolishing Medicaid/Medicare, and passing a Constitutional Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of government-health-care."

Bradgriff

Thank you so much Ben. I work in the healthcare industry, and as part of my job I verify that medicare patients are eligible for benefits. Calling Medicare is a sampling of hell itself. They act like DMV and IRS workers. Slamming the window shut with a snear when you've waited 2 hours because it's thier break....it's like that only over the phone for me. They have such terrible "someone owes me" attitudes that they actualy seem to take great joy in making sure you don't get the info you need. Then they hang up on you with the most insincere possible sounding "sorry sir have a nice day" click! And it's not just attitude, the quality of information they give me sucks and I have to double my efforts to get accurate info, which increases the cost of healthcare.

Anyway....I have 2 bits of wisdom, close Medicare, and I don't care where those idiots and thier useless asses find work. Then...Force all medical insurance companies to be.....VERY IMPORTANT HERE...NOT FOR PROFIT.....that is they key.

As for Pharmaceuticals and Hospitals, where to begin? You can't just tell all hospitals they're owned by the Gov't, and tell the Dr's they now make 1/3 of what they did, and tell the unionized Nurses they make 1/2 of what they did, people won't put up with it. Dr's in the US make a LOT more than socialized medicine countries, so where do you start? And the Pharmaceuticals industry will have a tough time attracting investors without the returns they see now. What a mess....and how to fix it?

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