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ORIGINAL: thornhappy

That doesn't refer to the whole reform bill - it refers to the Independent Medicare Advisory Board only.

And a nice insinuation that it really is a death panel. Weekly Standard at its best.

quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyEllen

There is already rationing!

Time and again on here I have read posts describing situations where insurance cover was withdrawn or amended, where policy excesses were raised beyond reason and where some conditions were not regarded as covered at all.

Yes, there will have to be rationing in any system - but the rationing in this new system will be based on something other than commercial interests and what can be gotten away with to protect and make profits as is the methodology of rationing otherwise in place.

I find it literally amazing that every other public common good is covered by public arrangements and this appears to be no issue, but that healthcare should be seen as something so far removed from the public common good that any proposal to provide it in the same way attracts such vehement opposition.

E

quote:

Change Social Values Regarding Cost-Inducing Activities
A. Encourage Adoption of "Living Wills"
The "Living Will" concept allows patients to legally require the cessation of the employment of
extraoridnary means to prolong life when there is irrefutable evidence that biological death is
imminent. The first such law was enacted in California in September 1966, and legislators in 16
other States sought to delineate rights for the terminally ill during that year. The statutes make
provision for a person to declare in advance what he would wish done if he should reach a moribund
condition and be incapable of expressing his wishes. It relieves the physician and/or
health facility of any liability. Prior to passage in California, 87 percent of persons polled there
thought that an incurably ill patient should ha the right to refuse life-prolonging medication.
Encouraging States to pass such a law or, more strongly, withholding Federal funds without
passage would serve to heighten public awareness of the use of such resources and would also
lower health spending when such wills are executed.
The strong response to the Karen Ann Quinlan case demonstrates that such encouragement
would result in some negative public reaction. Although the Catholic Church ruled that extraordinary
measures need not be employed, there is still religious resistance to this concept.
The cost-savings from a nationwide push toward "Living Wills" is likely to be enormous. Over
one-fifth of Medicare expenditures are for persons in their last year of life. Thus, in FY 1978, $4.9
billion will be spent for such persons and if just one-quarter of these expenditures were avoided
through adoption of "Living Wills," the savings under Medicare alone would amount to $1.2
billion. Additional Federal savings would accrue to Medicaid and the VA and Defense Department
health programs.

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ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy


Since it doesnt meet the defintion of a public good, why would you be surprised?

A public good is one where consumption does not reduce availability to others, and no one can effectively be prohibited from using it. Health care is a private good.

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ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

I dont believe Bush is hiding in the WH. I do believe Obama had a standard set for him when he entered his position... the wheel was in motion.. he either had to hit the hand brake or keep going.

quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyEllen

Interesting definition.

So then the police is not a public good, since if someone calls the police out there may not be enough police to answer other calls and nuisance callers to the police may not be answered at all.

E

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

I could not agree with you more. At least bankruptcy would have forced a whole lot of changes in bonuses, payrolls and benefits, along with how some of these companies were previously ran.

I always wanted to see what Iococa would have done... lol.

quote:

Its the standard definition in economics.