Medicare buy-in would be a good place to start
This is continuing the he-said, she-said conversation regarding healthcare. How can Medicare cost more when it negotiates better hospital rates and has lower overall administrative costs? Currently, it’s a government entity that uses privatesector companies to process claims.
One big problem is that Medicare is not allowed to negotiate with drug companies. This must change.
Another problem is our model of nonholistic care and minimizing the role of primary care. We must allow physicians to spend the necessary amount of time to diagnose patients and make sure they are paid appropriately for their time. Tenminute office visits lead to too many specialists who look at their part of the patient, prescribe their drug or procedure, and pass them on when they do not solve the problem. This piecemeal problem is a huge cost driver. Another cost driver is the lack of transparency in pricing. This also must change.
Healthcare needs to be transformed. Having insurance companies that have been predatory and make more money while pushing up market prices is why we are where we are now. They are part of the problem.
There is no room for profiteering in healthcare. The system must reevaluate itself. A good place to start would be allowing people over age 50 to buy in to Medicare. We can then evaluate the costs and outcomes and go from there.
William Charschan Charschan Chiropractic and Sports Injury Associates North Brunswick, N.J.