National health care

I am a recently retired central Arkansas physician, and recently took part in a national survey. The questions were: “1. What do you think of the current state of health care in the United States? 2. What is your vision of the future of health care in the United States?” I’m sure many of us have pondered these questions. Here were my answers, which might serve as food for thought for your readers:

1. Best in the world, but too expensive. Third-party payment, insulating the consumer/patient from the cost consequences of drugs, procedures, hospital costs and cognitive services, perpetuates its high cost.

It’s the most heavily regulated industry in our economy, as federal government and insurance company mandates add bushels of red tape to drag down productivity. The “wet blanket” effect of clinical and charge documentation erodes job satisfaction for caregivers, adding to the physician shortage. (No, computerization didn’t solve that … on the contrary.)

2. America will take one of two paths: i. decrease the effect of third-party control—equalize tax treatment of individual versus employee health expenses, allow purchase of health “insurance” across state lines, unleash medical savings accounts by expanding allowed thresholds for deposits and catastrophic insurance deductibles, abolish the mandated benefits found in Obamacare and allow Americans to buy the coverage they want. In short: Put the sharp-penciled American consumer back in charge. The resulting cost-consciousness, resulting in the power of competition among providers, will knock the props out of the cost problem.

Or … ii. Nationalized health care. Shortages … waiting lines … disgruntled doctors and nurses … continued higher costs as (attempted) utilization skyrockets, necessitating rationing by the waiting line. “If you think health care is expensive now, wait till it’s free!” (P.J. O’Rourke) “Forbid it, almighty God!” (Patrick Henry)

PETER M. MARVIN

Little Rock