Health Care Costs and Reform

[KeithE]

[Gene Scarborough]

I think you have addressed every single issue involved in the drastic rise in healthcare costs! Job well done.

The bottom line, I think, is from the consumer thinking every sniffle requires a visit to the Dr. where you are exposed to all kinds of sick people in his waiting room for hours on end infecting one another.

We don't want to admit that we get old and eventually die. The high cost of Viagra is proof positive that men want to perform as if they were all 20-30 and in their prime! The cost of the dilusion is astounding and I doubt the cost of that little blue pill has much to do with the actual cost of production and distribution.

What used to be an "art" or a "service" has become a rich profession that often misses its diagnosis and makes people worse rather than better. Check out the massive advertising that now makes the patient go in and demand the magic pill. Also note the 2/3 of the commercial with the voice auctioning off all the side effects and possible harm so Pharma can have their lawyer claim they did their proper warning and therefore, do not owe the gazillions the class action lawsuit is demanding.

Most of those class action advertisements result in great wealth for the law firms involved and a pittance to anyone harmed by bad medical practices.

The most famous studies done with control groups and placebos show 1/3 getting better--1/3 getting worse -- 1/3 having no change. The body is designed by God to heal itself the majority of the time. A witchdoctor doing magic tricks can bring about healing of psychogenic disease as well as anyone else. He gets great tribal respect, but lives in the same kind of house as the rest of the tribe!

[David Flick]

[Gene Scarborough]

The study I was citing dealt with normal illness and psychiatric stuff.

It is a given that diabetes is a malfunctioning of the pancreas and insuline production failure. As such, it is beyond the body's power to heal.

Out of cuiosity, I wonder how a witchdoctor really would handle such!!!!

[Ed Pettibone]

Ed: So Gene are you suggesting that Diabetes is outside the range of "normal illness", If so what makes it any more abnormal than say Arthritis? But really, are not all illnesses a deviation from the norm?

[Gene Scarborough]

Love it, ED =

[KeithE]

[Ed Pettibone]

And Keith what did you just add to that discussion about Health Care reform??? Personaly Every one I have seen in that discussion seems to be in over their heads.

[Gene Scarborough]

Ed---

Has the "curmudgeon in residence" contributed anything either????

The issue is "Health Care Cost and Reform."

We are the only industrialized nation not trying to bring costs under control and offering reasonable care to those not able to afford insurance. The cost of healthcare is rising at 3-4 times inflation. Doctors and Pharma are getting rich along with hospitals and other facilities. In an busted economy, why is everyone advocating you get a job in healthcare---it is booming!

Something is out of kilter / we can do better and wiser than any nation already having problems over nationalized medicine / so what is Congress doing besides running for office in November and playing "safe????" Get some courage boys and quit taking all that money from the AMA / large Pharma / healthcare institutions building "bigger and better" and paying their CEO's big bucks for the show!!!! AHHHHH

[KeithE]

[Gene Scarborough]

I am noticing some rural clinics popping up around rural eastern NC. The reason is a deal with medical schools for reduced tuition if a student commits to our rural healthcare initiative here in NC.

The docs aren't driving nice cars and don't get rich quick as do many going into an established practice or large "for profit" Clinic.

It is a hope that this rural initiative will captivate the hearts of new docs who really want to serve and help over just getting rich. That old small town doc found a reward money can't buy. It's in the hands of the professionals who care!

The facility is a trailer or modular and the parking lot is always full!

We also have a Baptist medical/dental unit going around and helping. If we start thinking about helping people rather than just making money, we can solve these problems. It is not just in the hands of government to slow down cost increases. Lower cost clinics makes the sick happy.

To put up a sign saying, "We euthanize ambulance-chasing lawyers for FREE" would be the biggest and quickest step to reduce costs!

[KeithE]

[KeithE]