Re: [Pen-l] broken link at health care folllies

[Rudy Fichtenbaum <rudy.fichtenbaum@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Michael,

I have two comments about your debate presentation on health care. 
First, the argument that the uninsured can receive health care at an 
emergency room is only partially true. If it is truly an emergency most 
people will receive treatment. However, emergency rooms will not treat 
people with chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure or 
asthma unless they are in a crisis. So people without health insurance 
do not get the same care as people with good insurance. In many cases 
this lack of health insurance do result in premature death -- think 
about untreated high blood pressure or diabetes. Emergency rooms do not 
provide cancer screening like mammograms for people without health 
insurance. So people without health insurance are much more likely to 
have cancer detected at a later stage when it is less treatable.  Also 
there are a lot of people who have insurance but the deductibles and 
copays are so high that they cannot afford to use their insurance so 
they wait until there is an emergency. So it is simply a myth that 
everyone gets health care.

My second point relates to a single payer. I support a single payer 
system as a first reform. It will save a lot of money on administrative 
costs and provide millions with access to health insurance. However, 
single payer is not a panacea. It just solves the financing crisis in 
our health care system. It will not solve the crisis of fragmented 
uncoordinated care. This affects even those who have good insurance. As 
long as the "health care system" is private it will remain as a sick 
care system.  So I guess I would see single payer as a first step 
because it socializes the financing system. Ultimately, we will need 
some sort of a national health care system where the emphasis will be on 
the social prevention of disease if we are interested in improving 
people's health, providing high quality treatment for those who need it 
and controlling cost increases.

Rudy

Michael Perelman wrote:
> http://michaelperelman.wordpress.com/2008/07/05/healthcare-follieshealthcare-follies/
>
> It should be ok now.
>
>   

--
Rudy Fichtenbaum
Professor of Economics & Chief Negotiator AAUP-WSU
Department of Economics
Wright State University
Dayton, OH 45435
Phone: 937-775-3085
Fax: 937-775-2441

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