Saturday, July 25, 2009
Healthcare reform analysis
Our own Dr. Walt Larimore has done some interesting analysis and points to some others. Here are some points. How often have you heard that the US:
1. Has 46 million uninsured;
2. Has the highest infant mortality rate in the developed world;
3. Insurers cover less costs today than they used to?
Here are some links. First, an analysis of the "uninsured" shows that the REAL number is probably between 10 and 35 million depending on your assumptions. If it's 10 million, should we really blow up the entire US healthcare system for 3% of the population? Wouldn't it be a LOT more efficient, kinder, better to figure out how to cover those few? If it's really only 3%, how about us docs stepping up and doing more charity care?
Second, an analysis of 9 circulating myths about US healthcare. Did you, for example, know that European countries don't count as many stillbirths etc as "infant mortality?" the US counts them all. No wonder we don't look as good.
Here's another myth: "We pay much more for health care, but our expected life span is shorter than Europeans." But an analysis has shown that if you subtract out automobile accidents (we drive a LOT more than Europeans) and homicide (you really can't blame the health system for 19 year old drug dealers shooting each other) we actually live LONGER than Europeans. Interesting, no?
How about this quote? (same source as above.)
"In countries with nationalized care, medical outcomes are often catastrophically worse. Take breast cancer. According to the Heritage Foundation, breast cancer mortality in Germany is 52% higher than in the U.S.; the U.K.'s rate is 88% higher. For prostate cancer, mortality is 604% higher in the U.K. and 457% higher in Norway. Colorectal cancer? Forty percent higher in the U.K."
We physicians need to recall one of our primary principles: Primum non nocere. First do no harm. If we nationalize our healthcare system, will we harm 90% or more of our patients?
1. Has 46 million uninsured;
2. Has the highest infant mortality rate in the developed world;
3. Insurers cover less costs today than they used to?
Here are some links. First, an analysis of the "uninsured" shows that the REAL number is probably between 10 and 35 million depending on your assumptions. If it's 10 million, should we really blow up the entire US healthcare system for 3% of the population? Wouldn't it be a LOT more efficient, kinder, better to figure out how to cover those few? If it's really only 3%, how about us docs stepping up and doing more charity care?
Second, an analysis of 9 circulating myths about US healthcare. Did you, for example, know that European countries don't count as many stillbirths etc as "infant mortality?" the US counts them all. No wonder we don't look as good.
Here's another myth: "We pay much more for health care, but our expected life span is shorter than Europeans." But an analysis has shown that if you subtract out automobile accidents (we drive a LOT more than Europeans) and homicide (you really can't blame the health system for 19 year old drug dealers shooting each other) we actually live LONGER than Europeans. Interesting, no?
How about this quote? (same source as above.)
"In countries with nationalized care, medical outcomes are often catastrophically worse. Take breast cancer. According to the Heritage Foundation, breast cancer mortality in Germany is 52% higher than in the U.S.; the U.K.'s rate is 88% higher. For prostate cancer, mortality is 604% higher in the U.K. and 457% higher in Norway. Colorectal cancer? Forty percent higher in the U.K."
We physicians need to recall one of our primary principles: Primum non nocere. First do no harm. If we nationalize our healthcare system, will we harm 90% or more of our patients?
