Dictated medicine by the Health Insurance Industry

[OETKB]

<http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/05/16/bisa0516.htm>

Supposedly "private medicine" is protecting us from government interference in the practice of medicine. This article is a forerunner of the future of medicine in this country. Without a rational system to pay for health care we will be served by faceless corporations who will dictate the rules to all of us. What kind of madness is this to make up so convoluted system so doctors can get paid for work they actually did for patients who have insurance to pay for it. Unfortunately, instead of tackling the problem directly, the doctors have sought relief by difficult to enforce legislation resisted by corporate money. It is becoming clearer every day that single national health insurance is needed.

[Warpy]

1. No shit, Sherlock!

I see it happening on a state by state basis, though, as big insurance companies merge again and again and then pull out of "unprofitable" markets, leaving whole areas with no possibility of being provided for.

There are some things that clearly belong out of the for profit sector, and health care is one. It will belong in that wonderful world of raking profit out as soon as illness becomes a consumer decision.

[xray s]

2. this is insanity

The corporate "for profit" insurance model does not work when it comes to health care. Doctors know this. Business managers know this. So why don't they get off their asses and help us provide universal coverage under Medicare?

Just how much longer do they need to hit themselves in the head with a hammer before they make it stop?