>> I spent about one third of my career in the ER. You have no idea what you are talking about.
Okay, well, since you spent 1/3 of your career in the ER (no idea in what capacity, but it doesn't matter), here are some facts you may have missed, courtesy of CDC:
- About 15% of Americans are uninsured.
- In 2010, the number of uninsured ER visits was 19,558,000, which was 15.1% of the total.
So, explain why insured and uninsured patients use the ER at essentially identical rates.
>> Recently, a second option has appeared, in selective locations...
I have posted here as well as on the health care thread that I believe taxpayer-funded free clinics have a role in American health care.
The cost of funding 250 free/pay what you can/Medicare/Medicaid clinics around the country to operate 24/7 would be minimal. The problem is that the ER business is profitable and hospitals LOVE it, so they generally are not willing to give it up. And in the vast majority of localities there simply isn't room for both.
As usual, you don't have a clue what the fuck you're talking about, and certainly not when it comes to the financing of health care. |
