Learning about the health care bill

[RobinFinderson]

I, for one, never felt like I really understood it. I could understand socialized medicine, because the idea is so simple, but this health care bill is a whole different creature.

It probably doesn't surprise anyone, but I didn't trust that the Republicans were accurately depicting the reality of what this health care bill really means. Well the same is true about the Democrats. I didn't trust that they were accurately depicting the reality of the bill either.

So what is the reality of this bill? I don't think anyone really knows, but the reality is coming, and it is going to be really interesting to watch and learn what this health care bill will really mean in our lives.

[venkman]

I, for one, never felt like I really understood it. I could understand socialized medicine, because the idea is so simple, but this health care bill is a whole different creature.

It probably doesn't surprise anyone, but I didn't trust that the Republicans were accurately depicting the reality of what this health care bill really means. Well the same is true about the Democrats. I didn't trust that they were accurately depicting the reality of the bill either.

So what is the reality of this bill? I don't think anyone really knows, but the reality is coming, and it is going to be really interesting to watch and learn what this health care bill will really mean in our lives.

The purpose of this bill is to FUBAR the system so badly that even IPU and I will be begging for a single payer system.

[il Padrino Ute]

The purpose of this bill is to FUBAR the system so badly that even IPU and I will be begging for a single payer system.

.

[hostile]

So what is the reality of this bill? I don't think anyone really knows, but the reality is coming, and it is going to be really interesting to watch and learn what this health care bill will really mean in our lives.

I don't really know what the reality is either. In some ways that is scary, as both a consumer and provider of health care. How much are my taxes going up? How much are reinbursements going down? Who knows. For the type of medicine I practice, people will still be showing up with injuries that need immediate treatment. I haven't ever asked anyone how they plan on paying for my services. Maybe this new system means I'll never have to worry about it. Maybe five years from now I'll be writing about switching careers and opening a new restaurant.

[CardiacCoug]

The purpose of this bill is to FUBAR the system so badly that even IPU and I will be begging for a single payer system.

That's pretty much it.

But if the Republicans take over Congress this November and the Presidency in 2 years, most of this will be reversed.

But the Republicans won't be able to fix things either. Eventually we will probably end up with a single, federal payer after health care is threatening to take over the entire economy.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Maybe five years from now I'll be writing about switching careers and opening a new restaurant.

What kind of food? Will you cater CUF get togethers?

[venkman]

That's pretty much it.

But if the Republicans take over Congress this November and the Presidency in 2 years, most of this will be reversed.

But the Republicans won't be able to fix things either. Eventually we will probably end up with a single, federal payer after health care is threatening to take over the entire economy.

We're stuck in the gray muck between heavily regulated private insurance and heavily regulated government insurance. The only true fix is to return to a consumer-centric, market-oriented system. I'm not holding my breath.

[venkman]

I don't really know what the reality is either. In some ways that is scary, as both a consumer and provider of health care. How much are my taxes going up? How much are reinbursements going down? Who knows. For the type of medicine I practice, people will still be showing up with injuries that need immediate treatment. I haven't ever asked anyone how they plan on paying for my services. Maybe this new system means I'll never have to worry about it. Maybe five years from now I'll be writing about switching careers and opening a new restaurant.

You'll probably make less money. Many people will think "hell yeah!", but not me.

[hostile]

What kind of food? Will you cater CUF get togethers?

Presently I cook what my kids will eat. That includes some basics like roasted chicken, beer-braised pot roast, mashed potatoes, and blueberry buttermilk pancakes. I delve into baking bread, italian and french cooking. I love a good salad, especially if I can get fresh ingredients from mom's garden. Steak is always good.

Catering would be fun, the clean up not so much.

[hostile]

You'll probably make less money. Many people will think "hell yeah!", but not me.

That's what I'm expecting. I wouldn't mind so much if the government would also regulate my costs such as tuition, malpractice insurance, rent in my office, salaries I pay my staff. I suspect those costs will continue to rise.

[CardiacCoug]

We're stuck in the gray muck between heavily regulated private insurance and heavily regulated government insurance. The only true fix is to return to a consumer-centric, market-oriented system. I'm not holding my breath.

I agree -- that would be the best fix. The Republicans had some chances to pass legislation to enhance free market forces in health care and they didn't do it. They bear a lot of the blame. They should have rammed something through the way the Democrats did.

[venkman]

I agree -- that would be the best fix. The Republicans had some chances to pass legislation to enhance free market forces in health care and they didn't do it. They bear a lot of the blame. They should have rammed something through the way the Democrats did.

I agree to a point. They did attempt to pass some free-market reform, but not hard enough. Republican reforms would have taken ramming something through...And I hate using the media bias card, because it's so cliche, but it's true: Republicans would have never got away with what the democrats ultimately got away with in terms of the legislative process.

[il Padrino Ute]

I agree to a point. They did attempt to pass some free-market reform, but not hard enough. Republican reforms would have taken ramming something through...And I hate using the media bias card, because it's so cliche, but it's true: Republicans would have never got away with what the democrats ultimately got away with in terms of the legislative process.

Correct. It's much easier to do things with a complicit media.

[Maximus]

According to CB, this bill spells the end to America.

[BoylenOver]

Here's an article that attempts to sum up how the medical industry is responding to the bill:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/bu...%20qacPyzgZdyQ