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Untill patients get as informed and as angry as the providers, the politics won't change. These companies are the robber barons of the 21st century. The politicians knew this was lose lose, so they came up with a solution. Unload the issue on these companies, and then, like a white knight, offer to legislate them, in order to secure votes and a constituency for themselves. This whole issue results from congress and its outmoded approaches to antitrust. The corporations can fix prices across wide swarths of the population, and the individual providers are in violation of the law if they collectively confront them. Only solution for providers is to unionize, and this is illegal. The final result is now being played out in a further lack of care for low income individuals and the bankruptcy of smaller and even large non aligned hospitals all over the US. This system cannot of course afford excellence. It is being redesigned to provide care to the masses, regardless of quality. Less time per patient, less access to specialists, and less choice for individuals when you finally figure out what you have and what you need. Did I mention more 'co-payments' as well. |
