Rising healthcare costs stagger cities

[ckramer]

A report by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation released yesterday cited a ''crisis in municipal health costs" and said cities and towns have seen a 63 percent increase in health insurance costs since fiscal year 2001, nearly double the rate of increase of state healthcare costs and more than four times the growth rate of local budgets.

''This is a staggering obligation that cities and towns are having to bear," said Michael J. Widmer, president of the taxpayers foundation. ''Clearly this is unsustainable."

Municipalities say that they are hamstrung by state laws that require them to negotiate with unions on almost all aspects of health benefits and, in some cases, to obtain agreement from all labor unions over any changes to health insurance plans. The report argues for allowing local officials to bypass unions and unilaterally set employee contribution rates, as Senate President Robert E. Travaligni has proposed in his health insurance package.

link

[LisaM]

1. Oh, right, blame the unions

don't blame the HMOs.

[Raster]

2. and for goodness sakes, don't even think about blaming the drug

companies or their lackies in congress that allow big pharma to rape and pillage the American taxpayer. Oh my no! We've got to make sure those big pharma corporations keep their huge ungodly profits. And those million dollar-plus lobbyists, they share no blame either.

<dripping with fucking sarcasm/>

[kaygore]

4. You are "dripping with fucking sarcasm" for good reason!

[kaygore]

3. Blame the unions rather than the health "care" monopoly

We ned universal health care coverage in this country and the ability of states to negotiate drug prices in their states or to buy from overseas.

CAFTA will make vitamins and supplements prescription drugs--then see prices go through the roof along with drug company profits (many drug companies have bought vitamin companies over the past few years, by the way--follow the money!)

[TahitiNut]

5. That's to be expected from the conservative-leaning MTF

Not quite as overtly extreme as AEI, the MTF often aligns with AEI and the conservative Pioneer Institute ... almost always skewering liberal groups and objectives.

You'll NEVER find the MTF taking a stand against any corporation. They're far more interested in shifting the tax burden to working people than tax predatory businesses that place enormous burdens on local infrastructure.

[EC]

6. Why don't I see JUST ONCE that the drug and insurance

companies need to adjust their costs?

[shantipriya]

7. Health Care Costs

Health care expenditure is going to be the reason for demise of many corporations and municipalties.Alas! when will the people wake up and demand universal healthcare.

[oscar111]

8. Nationalize all 4 corners of health -

drs
hospitals/nurs. homes
insurance
Big Pill
---{pls stop calling it Pharma, as that is not obvious what you are talking about. Big Pill is instantly obvious. Half the population is below average intelligence and doesnt know the latin word Pharma. K. I. S. S. keep it simple stupid.}

leave any corner private, and the price skyrocketing will continur.

because the desperate sick will pay any price to live.

[realms]

9. Street diagnosis

Some guy needed a couple bucks and rolled up is pant leg to show me a horrible swollen leg. I asked him if he had diabetes and yes but also a blood clot. We were sitting at table outside a heath food store. I solved worse problems than this, if only the Doctors would tell this guy to get a grip. Sorry I can't be more definitive.
I think my story is I'll watch you as you get well or if you die!

Love justice
Do mercy
Walk humbly before god

[NEOBuckeye]

10. Bill Pill! I LOVE that!

No one likes to take big pills. We need to start framing Pharma in that light.

Good one, oscar111!