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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: pompsander who wrote (734299)	3/28/2006 7:39:41 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Respond to of 769670

I think that one of the problems that will arise is --- at least in my backyard --- the pharmacies initially are saying that they will honor most every insurance plan that is listed with the State. (But that doesn't mean they won't rapidly change down the road.... :) IMO, truly effective cost containment in US health care costs will require a multi-faceted reform... reforms to patent law (for example: why shouldn't true cures, not mere treatments be offered LONGER patents, while shorter patents are the norm for run-of-the-mill reformulations, so generics have fewer difficulties reaching market?), insurance reforms (why the blizzard of different paperwork?), pharmacy reform & hospital reform (bar coding of all consumables could greatly reduce prescription errors and thus liability expenses), and the AMA could help out a great deal by helping (not resisting) the identification of the riskier, more error-prone, providers... with studies showing that some 5% of physicians may be responsible for up to 50% of the malpractice claims. And, of course, free markets would permit importation of medicines... and the ever-popular drum to beat on of tort reform could stand to take a few licks as well, although that is not the place where the biggest bang for the buck is likely to be found. Still, it can contribute. Without a comprehensive effort at reform, the system will produce poorer and poorer outcomes....