There is a way to fix our health care problem, but it is not being suggested because all plans are being presented by incompetent politicians. They cannot think outside the box and are more likely to do as big donors command rather than actually think and develop solutions.
Most of our biggest health care problems could easily be solved by developing national networks of non-profit health co-ops which member-owners pay into regularly and go to for a small reasonable fee (fee schedule) as needed. Direct patient pay. Probably 80-90% of medical needs could be met in such facilities with members having the option of purchasing catastrophic care policies if they wanted coverage beyond the networks.
I would be quite content to go to a no-frills hospital for a fair price. I don’t need to lie in a bed in a palatial complex with expensive art on the walls, manicured grounds with statues and waterfalls and 3 story high grand entryways.
Just let me walk in, get the care I need and walk out. Don’t tell me I have to go somewhere else first and be charged $375 for a doctor to give me a referral. It all happens at the same place.
Members can sign litigation waivers so there’s no need for staff to pay 60 grand a year for malpractice insurance. If a doctor makes mistakes, just can him for being lousy. If I need aspirin, charge me 40 cents for an aspirin, not $22 with a $26 administration fee for handing it to me.
Upon arrival be immediately assessed. If I just need an antbiotic or Xray give, it to me then with no drama and hoops to jump through.
Doctors, radiologists, lab workers etc., all on salary so no temptation to run patients through unnecessary testing to pad the bill.
If my local co-op loses my confidence, I can go to any other in the network the same way. But my payments then switch to my new base co-op and this creates the competition that promotes quality.
No special charges for pre-existing conditions or ER needed.
There are no huge investor run corporations to answer to with demands of increased profits by any and every means. You pay for care and get it. Local boards selected annually by members can oversee the business operations.
Patients who are terminal and unresponsive in such a system could not continue care. They would have to leave the network for entering the traditional system for care under the catastrophic policy they can afford.
This is a start and questions will arise but we must start somewhere.
Of course the lobbyists wouldn’t like it, but I think most of us would accept it.
All we want is safe health care at an affordable price.
A transition period would be necessary as with any plan.
So here is a plan from outside of the box. Let the discussions begin!
