tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697603232354740832.post4816751998329860617..comments2023-08-16T06:30:12.495-07:00Comments on HealthMatters: Conservative Health Care ProposalUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697603232354740832.post-73614441896130768772011-03-14T07:50:35.130-07:002011-03-14T07:50:35.130-07:00I love William Hsiao.I love William Hsiao.Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09591148539500576959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697603232354740832.post-1661507311432402762011-03-12T20:05:25.097-08:002011-03-12T20:05:25.097-08:00There is an issue with overtreatment just as there...There is an issue with overtreatment just as there is with malpractice. However, neither should be drivers of true reform, which in my mind is population-based health care with equal universal access and preventive health practices at all levels. Accomplish that, and overtreatment will take care of itself. Malpractice reform will become practical because cost-shifting to patients will have been stopped. William Hsiao points out that that is a real possibility under his recommendation that Vermont adopt single payer.K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10222703055177237209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697603232354740832.post-17030246449900329562011-03-09T07:09:36.095-08:002011-03-09T07:09:36.095-08:00At least the contributor offers some real structur...At least the contributor offers some real structure to this proposal but I disagree with the underlying premise that the biggest problem we face is that most medical care is unnecessary. If you base a health plan on that assumption and limit care to prevent misuse of resources, what do you say to the cancer patient, asthmatic, diabetic, or others who need frequent medical oversight, maybe throughout the remainder of their lives? <br /><br />As for costs, individual insurance polices in many states cost closer to $10,000 than $5,000. It's a major investment, which is why many working people who might appear on paper to be able to afford it, don't buy it. <br /><br />As for liberty, what good is liberty -- only a concept -- if you're suffering or dying because you can't afford the [tangible] help you need? I'd give up the "liberty" to not buy health insurance -- in a New York minute -- for the shackle of quality medical care that might save or improve the quality of my child's life. <br /><br />I realize some might rankle at the thought of anyone telling them what to do, but let's face it, sometimes mother knows best.Paulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09591148539500576959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697603232354740832.post-25063275776346537652011-03-07T08:11:09.617-08:002011-03-07T08:11:09.617-08:00My observation is that conservatives don't hav...My observation is that conservatives don't have a monopoly on valuing liberty. I would even suggest that liberals, moderates, and conservatives approach it within the same framework: What is the appropriate degree of individual liberty within the context of community needs? We simply draw different conclusions based on what we perceive as the greatest good.<br /><br />I don't wish to debate the specific issues of abortion and gay marriage, but it is very difficult for liberals to understand how conservatives can put such an emphasis on individual liberty that it seems to trump anything else, while at the same time oppose gay marriage and freedom of choice. I could make a similar observation regarding the free market and immigration. These do appear to be areas in which conservatives place their view of community needs above personal liberty.K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10222703055177237209noreply@blogger.com