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Study Suggests Medical Errors Now Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S. (2016)

hopkinsmedicine.org

11–20 of 235 posts

Re: Study Suggests Medical Errors Now Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S. (2016)

#11
post #2

Relevant: the US spends double the amount of other countries on healthcare, yet has a life expectancy 3 years shorter. https://ourworldindata.org/us-life-expectancy-low

Considering our diet, exercise and demographics I think that’s surprisingly decent regardless.

Re: Study Suggests Medical Errors Now Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S. (2016)

#12
post #9
post #2

Relevant: the US spends double the amount of other countries on healthcare, yet has a life expectancy 3 years shorter. https://ourworldindata.org/us-life-expectancy-low

Let the market decide!11! Mark Cuban's project of selling off-brand medication for cheap is great - insurance companies don't want to work with them, but if said insurance companies still require their customers to pay for medication and that project is even cheaper than that, they'll get competed out of the market. Also that free market thing is a lie, it's in the medical industry's interest to keep prices high and…

> insurance companies don't want to work with them

I'm not familiar with the peculiarities of the US healthcare system, but why wouldn't insurance companies work with off-brand medications? If it costs less it's good for them, no?

Re: Study Suggests Medical Errors Now Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S. (2016)

#14
post #12
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let the market decide!11! Mark Cuban's project of selling off-brand medication for cheap is great - insurance companies don't want to work with them, but if said insurance companies still require their customers to pay for medication and that project is even cheaper than that, they'll get competed out of the market. Also that free market thing is a lie, it's in the medical industry's interest to keep prices high and…

> insurance companies don't want to work with them I'm not familiar with the peculiarities of the US healthcare system, but why wouldn't insurance companies work with off-brand medications? If it costs less it's good for them, no?

Medical insurer's profits are limited to a percentage of their gross income, so, more expensive medications and procedures are preferred to less expensive ones in order to preserve overall income.

Re: Study Suggests Medical Errors Now Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S. (2016)

#15
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> insurance companies don't want to work with them I'm not familiar with the peculiarities of the US healthcare system, but why wouldn't insurance companies work with off-brand medications? If it costs less it's good for them, no?

Medical insurer's profits are limited to a percentage of their gross income, so, more expensive medications and procedures are preferred to less expensive ones in order to preserve overall income.

Well, there's a perverse incentive!

Re: Study Suggests Medical Errors Now Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S. (2016)

#16
post #11
post #2

Relevant: the US spends double the amount of other countries on healthcare, yet has a life expectancy 3 years shorter. https://ourworldindata.org/us-life-expectancy-low

Considering our diet, exercise and demographics I think that’s surprisingly decent regardless.

[deleted]

Re: Study Suggests Medical Errors Now Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S. (2016)

#17
post #9
post #2

Relevant: the US spends double the amount of other countries on healthcare, yet has a life expectancy 3 years shorter. https://ourworldindata.org/us-life-expectancy-low

Let the market decide!11! Mark Cuban's project of selling off-brand medication for cheap is great - insurance companies don't want to work with them, but if said insurance companies still require their customers to pay for medication and that project is even cheaper than that, they'll get competed out of the market. Also that free market thing is a lie, it's in the medical industry's interest to keep prices high and…

>> Mark Cuban's project of selling off-brand medication for cheap is great

It's great and going to help a lot of people. But it's still not cheap compared to a lot of other countries which either provide free medication or medication for a fixed fee per item (usually around $10-20, varies by country).

Re: Study Suggests Medical Errors Now Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S. (2016)

#18
The US incentivises blaming healthcare providers in order to recoup costs. I'm sure there are issues with substandard care, but I'm not sure the data can be fully trusted given that putting the blame on a healthcare provider in any way possible is often in the best interests of the patient.

Re: Study Suggests Medical Errors Now Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S. (2016)

#19
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> insurance companies don't want to work with them I'm not familiar with the peculiarities of the US healthcare system, but why wouldn't insurance companies work with off-brand medications? If it costs less it's good for them, no?

Medical insurer's profits are limited to a percentage of their gross income, so, more expensive medications and procedures are preferred to less expensive ones in order to preserve overall income.

Ah... Thanks... Unintended consequences strike again.
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