Let's talk about health care
 

I think we've got representatives from every interest group except perhaps the insurance companies.

Topic: What is wrong with our health care system and how do we fix it?

Re: Let's talk about health care
 

Malpractice

The players:

Patients
Health Care Providers
Insurance Companies
Lawyers
Pharmaceutical Companies
State and Federal Government

Costs

Too much of it, or fear of lawsuits alleging it?

Why are costs so high?

I'd say lack of true competition

And the medical "arms" race - every hospital has to have an MRI machine etc

Is there a doctor in the house? A medic?

Working on a response RL.

I will try to get it posted shortly.

I have to disagree here...
With the SOARING cost of malpractice and the legal thinktanks and administrative liasions with insurance regulations and requirements that must be met, physicians and midlevel providers both have to divide their attention between patient care and the insurance representative who says that care is excessive or unnecessary.
As a PA my malpractice in the civilian sector was a little over $300 / month as a part time employee (less than 32 hours a week)...that is a MINISCULE amount when comparing with physician malpractice insurance costs.
Hospital administrators will often use malpractice stipends in their slary negotiations in order to attract physicians to their groups. With the possibility of lawsuits into the HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS because Little Susie has a "less than sightly scar" on her chin from where she split it on her tricycle at 3 y/o...and it has "prevented her from becoming a runway model and significantly damaged her lifetime earning potential"...THESE are the issues that soar healthcare costs.
Even the "not able to pay cases" are may times easier to handle administratively because we are able to do what is necessary without having to fight for every tylenol or use 4x4 instead of 2 opened up 2x2's because they are cheaper.
Healthcare has gone rom being a noble profession for the people, to target practice for the public, and frivolous use of the judicial system has yet to be adequately quashed against the guy who has chosen to attempt and save your life instead of leave you on the doorstep to bleed to death or rot from disease.

Eagle

And the Eagle has landed! Very nice effort. Who's next?

OK, me. A little at a time.

What does a doctor or other health care provider do when an insurance company pays only part of an invoice?

Malpractice

Are you going to answer the question I asked last time you said this word?