‘Sicko’ numbers mostly accurate; more context needed
How big of an issue will healthcare be in 08?
(CNN) — Michael Moore’s “Sicko,” which opened nationwide Friday, is filled with horror stories of people who are deprived of medical service because they can’t afford it or haven’t been able to navigate the murky waters of managed care in the United States.
It compares American health care with the universal coverage systems in Canada, France, the United Kingdom and Cuba.
Moore covers a lot of ground. Our team investigated some of the claims put forth in his film. We found that his numbers were mostly right, but his arguments could use a little more context. As we dug deep to uncover the numbers, we found surprisingly few inaccuracies in the film. In fact, most pundits or health-care experts we spoke to spent more time on errors of omission rather than disputing the actual claims in the film.
June 30th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Much of what we have, as problems, goes back many decades. Another thing is our litigation costs. Malpractice insurance for an OBYGN can run as high as over $200,000 in Miami.
That we have serious problems are well known. It is the solutions that will actually help that seem to be “unknown.”
Each proposal has brought about a list of concerns and problems with the solution and how it will affect the quality of service.
In many socialized healthcare nations, long waits seem to be the biggest problem but why the waits occur is really noteworthy. In most cases, the incentive to be a healthcare provider isn’t there anymore. Older doctors, already in practice stay in it but, it becomes difficult to lure young people into the profession. The years of study, cost of tuition, risk of lawsuits, long hours, etc. has made other occupations more attractive. For some, they leave the nation for other nations that pay better.
Currently we have a nurse shortage and nurses have to work 12 hour shifts here in the Phoenix area due to that shortage. MRI reading can now be sent digitally to Australia and be analyzed and the results returned in less time that having it done here in the U.S. due to a lack of people in that profession.
A national healthcare plan isn’t going to make those problems go away and very well may make them worse. We are seeing pharmaceuticals going overseas and now import Liptor and Zucor from Ireland where wages are higher but tax on profits lower.
I would like to see more states come up with healhcare plans for their citizens and the plans allow for competition among providers. It could be a “basic package” at a rate with co-pay that would be accepted by all insurance providers but, which also would allow you to “buy” with your own money, more services such as a “private room.”
The plans would have to either be good in all 50 states so that if you move, you would still be covered or mandatory acceptance in the new state you move to if you have been in a plan already.
There a lots of problems with every suggestion because the only “fair,” system is one that isn’t acceptable and that is one where each person is responsible for his own health care insurance. I say unacceptable because we live in a nation the won’t deny anyone basic healthcare even if they won’t even try to get healthcare insurance or pay for it. Thus, we leave ourselves open for all kinds of fraud and people who “use the system” not only in healthcare but in other programs for the needy.
We are at a point where doing something may end up making things worse in the long run but if we don’t, we will see more and more people without healthcare insurance lining up in ER rooms and using them as their primary care facility.
How do you create a national or even state healthcare program that doesn’t drive more healthcare providers out of business or not provide the incentives to go into healthcare professsions? How do you pay for the program without driving more business out of the U.S. or investment in business out of the U.S.?
July 2nd, 2007 at 1:20 am
I think that hospitals are inefficient, medication is overpriced and from top to bottom it’s a racket.
Jan - check out SiCKO and then see if you are still worried about all of the issues you posted here.
Don’t spread this arround, but click here to see the movie.