The other side of the issue

[Creatine]

I have just finished reading "Understanding Health Policy" by Thomas Bodenheimer and Kevin Grumbach. Overall, I found it well-organized, with many interesting facts and viewpoints. However, the authors adamantly belive that health care is a right (not a privilege) and that the government (taxpayers) are ultimately responsible for ensuring that every individual in society is provided with a certain level of health care. The authors weave this viewpoint throughout the entire book, and thus, I can not help but feel as if I am being deprived of alternative viewpoints.

Is anyone aware of a comprehensive source on the health care system that entertains alternative viewpoints? I am particularly interested in the merits of private sector solutions, tax credits, health savings accounts, and the possibility of a multi-tiered health care system.

I am reluctant to take a stance on an issue until I have seen both sides of the issue, and I would certainly appreciate your help in this regard. I imagine there are many others on this board who would also like to explore the entire spectrum of ideas on health care reform.

Thank you!

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[SFAJess]

That's cool that you want to see both sides of the issue....but I feel it is a right for everyone. However, I don't think it's possible even with higher taxation. I know that Kerry at least wants to cover every child and make it as a part of the enrollment in school which I think is a good first step, but then again, this may be too ambitious.

It's hard to form opinions when we haven't been completely exposed to it. I just know that my dad right now isn't covered and he tells me things that worry me that would be TMI for here. However, he can't get checked out b/c he can't afford an office visit bill without insurance. If his condition gets worse (I'm hoping he doesn't have colon cancer or polyps) then it would cost even more to treat than if he had done this earlier. I feel pretty hopeless and I talk to him about it, but there is nothing that anybody in our family can do. So the uninsured issue personally affects me, but I understand that it would be incredibly hard and costly to insure everyone or even just the children.

 

[constructor]

just don't tell the interviewers that it's a privilege and not a right...

 

[Creatine]

just don't tell the interviewers that it's a privilege and not a right...

Your point is well-taken. The belief that health care is a privilege (and not a right) is certainly the minority viewpoint, particularly among those in academic medicine.

 

[Creatine]

Okay, one more try on the original question: Could anyone suggest a few resources on more conservative health care reform ideas?

 

[Code Brown]

Okay, one more try on the original question: Could anyone suggest a few resources on more conservative health care reform ideas?

To be honest with you, since most of us (you would hope) are in this, at least partly, to help people (for lack of a more refined answer), you are going to be quite hard-pressed to find something that is "conservative". We are way too conservative in terms of health care as it is. The best you will probably run into is to find something neutral. A good book that I found to be fairly neutral is Our Unsystematic Health Care System by Grace Budrys (ISBN 0742508994). It tries to explain both sides of the health care issue. Good luck.

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

Americans for Free Choice in Medicine

Information on Health Savings Accounts. Anti "Big Government".

Cato institute.

Best website I've found AGAINST socializing medicine. Comprehensive, also into Health Savings Accounts.

 

[leechy]

Your point is well-taken. The belief that health care is a privilege (and not a right) is certainly the minority viewpoint, particularly among those in academic medicine.

I don't know much about this issue yet, but what I do know also inclines me to agree tentatively with this minority viewpoint. And I agree with the other person who said not to mention such opinions during interviews. Heck, I'm gonna front as a socialist during my interviews!

 

[jazger]

Does anyone know where to find information on how the different insurance polcies or reforms affect doctors? It seems all the information available only addresses how patients are affected, not the physicians. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[beastmaster]

Go to www.mises.org if you want the free-market position on healthcare. This is the only place you'll find it, as CATO and their ilk are on the health savings account bandwagon. The latest article, which is actually a follow-up to an AMA-expose piece done a while back appears on the top of the page.

The problem with books is that they try too hard to be make their biases look objective. They end up sounding wishy-washy. I saw go straight to the source of the various positions, learn them, understand the philosophical core on which they are grounded, and form decisions from there. Whatever you end up deciding, you will have learned more than what you would have by laboring through some boring 300-page book.

Politically speaking, both parties are equally horrid on the healthcare issue.

 

[Creatine]

I think you all have provided me (and others) with a good source of resources to get started with. Thank you so much!