Comments on: Senator Barack Obama’s Health Care Reform Plan http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/senator-barack-obamas-health-care-reform-plan/ Reform From One Agent's Perspective Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:38:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: arizona home owner insurance http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/senator-barack-obamas-health-care-reform-plan/#comment-4098 arizona home owner insurance Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:33:53 +0000 http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/senator-barack-obamas-health-care-reform-plan/#comment-4098 I kind of wish all health insurance companies would do away with free office visits, small co-pays and that kind of thing. In the old days people stayed home and got well. Now we run everyone to the doctor for any illness related reason. I think the government can better educate things like that. I have acid reflux. My doctor recommended a pill. I eventually discovered that drinking apple/cider vinegar reduced the production of acid in my body. I do not have much issue with my acid reflux any longer. A little education would have helped from my doctor. I asked if there were any other solutions other than pills and he flatly stated, "no". I kind of wish all health insurance companies would do away with free office visits, small co-pays and that kind of thing. In the old days people stayed home and got well. Now we run everyone to the doctor for any illness related reason. I think the government can better educate things like that.

I have acid reflux. My doctor recommended a pill. I eventually discovered that drinking apple/cider vinegar reduced the production of acid in my body. I do not have much issue with my acid reflux any longer.

A little education would have helped from my doctor. I asked if there were any other solutions other than pills and he flatly stated, “no”.

]]> By: akatz http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/senator-barack-obamas-health-care-reform-plan/#comment-3602 akatz Thu, 07 Jun 2007 05:12:33 +0000 http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/senator-barack-obamas-health-care-reform-plan/#comment-3602 James makes a great point: We need to quit blaming folks and bring all perspectives to the table. Health care reform is simply too complex to exclude and viewpoint. We do need to be careful, however, in how we describe the results even of our current health care system. You note that "we are spending as a nation, up to 15% of GDP, we are one of the least healthy nations in the world." While we do need an ROI-look at our system, we need to be careful to use the right inputs. For example, many folks point to the fact that Canadians spend less money on health care than we do, but live longer. However, the US obesity rate is 50% greater than Canada's. And our population is far more diverse. My point is, how we measure ROI is an important component of moving forward. By the way, James has a blog, The Prognosis, which focuses on the economics of health care (http://theprognosis.blogspot.com/). It's worth your while to check it out. James makes a great point: We need to quit blaming folks and bring all perspectives to the table. Health care reform is simply too complex to exclude and viewpoint.

We do need to be careful, however, in how we describe the results even of our current health care system. You note that “we are spending as a nation, up to 15% of GDP, we are one of the least healthy nations in the world.” While we do need an ROI-look at our system, we need to be careful to use the right inputs. For example, many folks point to the fact that Canadians spend less money on health care than we do, but live longer. However, the US obesity rate is 50% greater than Canada’s. And our population is far more diverse. My point is, how we measure ROI is an important component of moving forward.

By the way, James has a blog, The Prognosis, which focuses on the economics of health care (http://theprognosis.blogspot.com/). It’s worth your while to check it out.

]]> By: James Case http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/senator-barack-obamas-health-care-reform-plan/#comment-3565 James Case Thu, 07 Jun 2007 01:46:56 +0000 http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/senator-barack-obamas-health-care-reform-plan/#comment-3565 I think the best approach for any candidate to take is not that there are evil constiuencies out there that are preying on the American people. The American people seem to want to comsume a large amount of health care services, and there is nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is with all the money that we are spending as a nation, up to 15% of GDP, we are one of the least healthy nations in the world. Our inputs are producing very little return on investment. Return on investment is something that for-profit companies know very well. So instead of placing blame on different parties, maybe we should enlist their expertise and help to find a solution that improves the output of our consumption, better health. I think the best approach for any candidate to take is not that there are evil constiuencies out there that are preying on the American people. The American people seem to want to comsume a large amount of health care services, and there is nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is with all the money that we are spending as a nation, up to 15% of GDP, we are one of the least healthy nations in the world. Our inputs are producing very little return on investment.

Return on investment is something that for-profit companies know very well. So instead of placing blame on different parties, maybe we should enlist their expertise and help to find a solution that improves the output of our consumption, better health.

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