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Date Posted: 20:00:14 08/23/09 Sun
Author: Paul Davis
Subject: Ok, I'll try to be more explicit
In reply to: Kelsey 's message, "Re: Does it matter in the end?" on 07:10:11 08/20/09 Thu


I suppose part of the misunderstanding here is that I've had some General Semantics training, and therefore have a strong tendency to label and date abstractions.

The "large groups of foreigners coming to the US for treatment" statement was true at one point in time, however, it is not true at this point in time. If we redact those who come here because they'd be arrested in the rest of the world, or would be very likely to be murdered (a fairish number of MidEast political figures and so forth) if they appeared helpless and within reach of their militant opponents, we are getting very few that aren't elective surgery. That flow changed some years back, and saying it's still at the old level is simply incorrect.

A search of sites or news articles turns up millions of hits on "medical tourism", and it's NOT all about people coming to the US by any means.

http://medpathgroup.us/medical-tourism-mexico/

http://www.placidway.com/news-detail/509

******
Last year an estimated 500,000 Americans traveled beyond U.S. borders to receive medical treatment for procedures as diverse as knee replacement, heart bypass surgery, face-lifts, reconstructive dentistry and in vitro fertilization. While the government, insurance companies and hospitals grapple over the best way to fix our ailing health care system, the uninsured and underinsured are looking elsewhere for options.
*****************

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159846.php

http://www.healthbase.com/

The notion of "US medical care is better than anywhere else" is no longer true, it's just more expensive than anywhere else. Please to note that these aren't links to blogs or wild lefty sites, these are sober solid businesses that intend to make a profit by helping you get away from the US medical system.

The loss of this large number of high profit patients is killing the system. Hospitals are closing, costs are rising in the face of a recession, and I'd give it three years of a bad economy before it all collapses, which last is my own opinion, but it is self evident that it won't stand up much longer under current conditions.

I'd suggest discarding all of your old ideas about the medical system prior to 2004 or 2005, reading up on the new information, and then deciding what you'd support to replace the broken mess we have now. Because it will be replaced, and right now the replacement looks like surgery for anything besides emergency care will be outsourced.

And that is absolutely ridiculous.


>I'm not sure that I'm clear about what you mean. You
>say the system is on the brink of absolute failure.
>How so? And according to what I have seen it's the
>Canadians coming here for treatment, not the other way
>around.
>
>The majority of Americans are opposed to public health
>insurance, and it isn't because they are being "scared
>off" by these ridiculous tactics some are employing.
>It's because they know that it will lead to further
>taxation and government control over their lives.
>
>I don't get why they keep trying to beat us over the
>head with a hammer. Instead of trying to force this,I
>don't understand why the President does not come out
>and simply say that we need to back up a bit and get
>this thing right. Then work on a plan that Americans
>can support. To keep pressing this is akin to
>political suicide. Have a look at the polling, Pubs
>leading in double digits in key races for Congress and
>Governorships.
>
>In any case, how do you propose that we pay for a
>government system when we already have 107 Trillion
>unfunded liability for the current government systems
>of social security and medicare?
>
>
>
>
>>The system is on the brink of absolute failure. It
>>probably can't stand up another three years, without a
>>complete overhaul, and there is a grim and utter
>>determination not to allow this cash cow to die before
>>sucking out the last drop.
>>
>>Or do you really believe the US can actually pay 25%
>>or more of GDP to a single industry, that supplies
>>nothing of value that can't be bought in another
>>country for less than half the price? Already we have
>>many middle class citizens flying to Mexico or Costa
>>Rica for medical care. And laws have been passed to
>>prevent citizens from going to Canada for medical
>>care.
>>
>>It would be way cheaper to rescue the old system and
>>reform it than build a new one from scratch, but that
>>appears to be the only solution acceptable to
>>Republicans and Blue Dogs.
>>
>>
>>>The sales manager in chief having continued
>>>difficulties with an unwilling customer base.
>>>
>>> >>>href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar
>t
>>i
>>>cle/2009/08/18/AR2009081803655.html?hpid=topnews">htt
>p
>>:
>>>//www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/
>0
>>8
>>>/18/AR2009081803655.html?hpid=topnews

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