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The profit-obsessed monster destroying American emergency rooms

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Re: The profit-obsessed monster destroying American emergency rooms

#41

Post by skhunted »

VancouverMan wrote: post #34
skhunted wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many individuals don't want to run their own practice due to the complexities (insurance, etc) that exist beyond the work (treating people). It’s interesting that the one specific thing you mention is insurance. That particular complexity doesn’t come from regulation. It comes from the immoral insurance industry.

The widespread need for medical insurance only exists because regulation has introduced many artificial inefficiencies within the health care sector that in turn severely distort the pricing of medical services and medical products. We'd see far more reasonable pricing, and much less need for something like medical insurance, without the regulations that artificially limit the supply of practitioners and clinics, tha…

The fact that healthcare is far cheaper in every European country that has universal healthcare suggests that you are wrong.

Re: The profit-obsessed monster destroying American emergency rooms

#42

Post by ghaff »

giantg2 wrote: post #7

The thing that doesn't get mentioned much in these conversations that I've personally seen play a big role is the regulation. When you have highly complex regulations, you end up consolidating practices. As regulations increase, the number of distinct providers/owners decrease. Many individuals don't want to run their own practice due to the complexities (insurance, etc) that exist beyond the work (treating people).…

It's not just regulation. You have electronic health record systems and the like that are often beneficial for consumers. My personal experience is that a lot of older docs, one doc practices, and the like hate this sort of thing. But I personally love the modern systems that a recent merger brought to my local hospital system. It's no longer about (maybe) faxes getting to the local lab for tests after calling them a week before the physical.

Re: The profit-obsessed monster destroying American emergency rooms

#43

Post by NickNaraghi »

For anyone looking for more information about the game dynamics of the “profit-obsessed monster” and why it is inevitable in our current economic system, I highly recommend the following Scott Alexander piece: https://www.slatestarcodexabridged.com/Meditations-On-Moloch

Re: The profit-obsessed monster destroying American emergency rooms

#44

Post by vouaobrasil »

nilawafer wrote: post #19

Isn’t huge profits the definition of success in capitalism? As a capitalist society shouldn’t there be cheers instead of complaining? This part I don’t understand about American culture.

The success of capitalism is to allow basic trade in smaller communities. Once it scales to the anonymity of the large corporation and the specialist of wealth extraction, it becomes malignant.

Re: The profit-obsessed monster destroying American emergency rooms

#46

Post by SoftTalker »

copperx wrote: post #3

How can I avoid an ER run by private equity?

Avoid the healthcare establishment as much as you can in general. They are a business, and their motive is profit, they don't care about making you better. Same thing is true of elder care, assisted living, etc. it's all centered on draining old people of their wealth before they die.

Do not go to the ER for a runny nose or a sore throat. You have an immune system. Go to bed and let your body recover.

Take on responsibility for your own health: eat better, get to a healthy weight, exercise. If you have chronic conditions that must be managed medically, shop around, find practices that are still locally owned. They are out there.

Re: The profit-obsessed monster destroying American emergency rooms

#47

Post by jerrycabbage »

Funeral homes and anything else not run by a single professional has had this treatment. This is due to inequality. The wealthy have nowhere left to invest but things like this which raise costs for the lower classes. Taxing wealthy far more is the only solution but people have a hard time voting in their interests. We're doomed.

Re: The profit-obsessed monster destroying American emergency rooms

#48

Post by AlphaSite »

ghaff wrote: post #35
titanomachy wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

$300 is your part of a regular doctor visit? Or the total bill? Do you have one of those high-deductible plans designed to discourage people from seeking any healthcare?

When I was covered by an employer plan, a lot of people seemed to gravitate towards high deductible plans because they were cheaper so long as you didn't consume a lot of healthcare. (Personally, I never did but a lot of people were adamant that you saved money that way.)

You really need to look at how the employer funds it but often those are cheaper no matter what.

Re: The profit-obsessed monster destroying American emergency rooms

#49

Post by ALittleLight »

morkalork wrote: post #5
copperx wrote: post #3

How can I avoid an ER run by private equity?

Vote for politicians who support a single payer health care system

Does a single payer healthcare system change this? Presumably that would change who pays the healthcare provider - not who owns the healthcare provider, right?
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