Hillary Clinton on the state of health care

[question everything]

"In 1993 critics predicted that if the Clinton administration's universal health care coverage plan became law, costs would go through the roof. 'Hospitals will have to close,' they said. 'Families will lose their choice of doctors. Bureaucrats will deny medically necessary care.'

"They were half right. All that has happened. They were just wrong about the reason.

"We are No. 1 in the world in health care spending. On a per capita basis, health spending in the United States is 50 percent higher than in the second-highest spending country: Switzerland. If we are spending so much, why does the United States rank behind 47 other countries in life expectancy and 42nd in infant mortality?

(snip)

"More than one in four health care dollars go to administration. In 1999, that meant $300 billion per year went to pay for administrative bureaucracy: accountants and bookkeepers who negotiate with insurance companies and squeeze every possible reimbursement out of Medicare and Medicaid.

(snip)

"The present system is unsustainable. The only question is whether we will master the change or it will master us."

From an April 18 New York Times Magazine essay by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/4752850.html

[whistle]

1. Yes, the inequities in health care in the U.S.

...is a national disgrace. Hospitals are killing people. Doctors are providing poor service and placing patients at risk. Pharmaceutical companies are making people sicker by bringing drugs that are falsely researched and claiming miracle cures and reaping billions of dollars in profits. Medical insurance companies are over charging, denying much coverage and making non-qualified medical decisions. Hillary's plan could never have created these kinds of problems. Only corporate greed can be the blame here.:wtf:

[The Traveler]

2. My brother in law just died of a stroke

They didn't give him the anti-stroke meds for various bogus reasons, the final one being "we thought it was too late" ... No need to go into the details but it was one botched job after another. So, yes, hospitals kill people. And I'm fuckin' pissed off right now.

I was one of those who opposed national health care. About a year ago, I became convinced Hillary Clinton was right and I was wrong. Recent events just re-inforce that conviction.

[Lindacooks]

3. I'm sorry for your family's loss

Yes, Senator Clinton was right in the early 1990s when she tried to bring single-payer healthcare to America's attention. We are getting screwed by insurance companies, people, and those companies continue to rake in huge profits while they second-guess doctor's decisions. 'Socialized medicine' is the only way.

[the Kelly Gang]

4. they told the greatest lies about Hillary Clinton's plans..New Zealand

Australia, Canada, Scandanavian countries..all have superb public health care which are similar to what she wanted. It's an absolute disgrace that anyone in the US should suffer because they cannot afford decent health care..this is the one thing that the right will fight the dirtiest on ( via Bush)..the profits to be made from the sick and dying are too great. Even the creepy Bush arse-licking John Howard has tried his best to destroy Australia's Medicare system but has realised it's electoral suicide to do so..and that's why they willl fight to see it off..once in ,it's in forever.

even Cuba has good public health.

[pacifictiger]

5. New Zealand's health care

used to be great. What happened? Partial privatization and new immigrants straining the system. Still, the children, elderly and neediest get care and mental patients are put in hospital instead of prison or abandoned to roam the streets.