- Joined
- Aug 9, 2001
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ONe thing thats missed in the debate is that under a universal system, what will happen is that more and more different types of "providers" will be added to the system.
I'm talking about people like:
1) Audiologists
2) Physical Therapists
3) Optometrists
4) Acupuncturists
5) Naturopaths
6) Chiropractors
What that means is that the govt will be paying a further widening scope of people who add very little incremental value to the overall health care system. But doctors will get pinched in the end because govt will base their "provider" outlays encompassing all of these people and will slash individual reimbursement to avoid going over-budget.
Case example.
Universal health care in 2010. Govt says they will spend $X on all provider reimbursements. The provider group = doctors, NPs, and PAs. Result: Individual doctor reimbursement = $X split up amongst 3 provider groups.
Universal health care in 2020. Govt says they will pay $X + inflationary costs on all provider reimbursements. NOw, however, the provider group = doctors, pharmacists, NPs, PAs, audiologists, chiropractors, physical therapists, naturopaths, and janitors. Result: individual doctor reimbursement = $X plus inflation split up amongst 30 provider groups.
So remember, next time you hear about these new "providers" being eligible for money direct from Medicare or a future universal care system, their income is going to come straight out of your pocket.
This is EXACTLY what happened in the UK. UK reimburses a ton of people like those in the list above, and as a result they cut individual reimbursements so that fools could get their acupucture treatments courtesy of the govt.
I'm talking about people like:
1) Audiologists
2) Physical Therapists
3) Optometrists
4) Acupuncturists
5) Naturopaths
6) Chiropractors
What that means is that the govt will be paying a further widening scope of people who add very little incremental value to the overall health care system. But doctors will get pinched in the end because govt will base their "provider" outlays encompassing all of these people and will slash individual reimbursement to avoid going over-budget.
Case example.
Universal health care in 2010. Govt says they will spend $X on all provider reimbursements. The provider group = doctors, NPs, and PAs. Result: Individual doctor reimbursement = $X split up amongst 3 provider groups.
Universal health care in 2020. Govt says they will pay $X + inflationary costs on all provider reimbursements. NOw, however, the provider group = doctors, pharmacists, NPs, PAs, audiologists, chiropractors, physical therapists, naturopaths, and janitors. Result: individual doctor reimbursement = $X plus inflation split up amongst 30 provider groups.
So remember, next time you hear about these new "providers" being eligible for money direct from Medicare or a future universal care system, their income is going to come straight out of your pocket.
This is EXACTLY what happened in the UK. UK reimburses a ton of people like those in the list above, and as a result they cut individual reimbursements so that fools could get their acupucture treatments courtesy of the govt.
