From: ml (mbtlehn@ix.netcom.com)
Date: Thu Jul 15 2004 - 05:43:04 BST
----- Original Message -----
From: <ant.mcwatt@ntlworld.com>
To: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 7:38 PM
Subject: MD the metaphysics of free-enterprise
> Just to had to intervene on one point made between Platt and Arlo in their
recent excellent discussion concerning free markets.
>
> Platt Holden stated July 14th 2004:
>
> Headline in the UK Sun "newspaper" this morning:
>
> Ant McWatt comments:
>
> Firstly, the Sun is as much a newspaper as a surfboard is a reliable means
of trans-Atlantic transport. There's no way the Sun could be perceived as a
credible or seriously unbiased medium and certainly wouldn't be acceptable
in an academic context.
<snip>
The only journalistic source without an axe to grind
and maybe from honesty's point of view: The Onion
>
> Kerry and Hillary want a similar low quality system for the U.S.
>
> Ant McWatt comments:
>
> I seriously don't think they do! <snip>
Maybe Kerry and Hill don't want low quality, but anyone who has been
a regular user of the US Postal Service or any of several other Fed
agencies already knows how little quality attaches itself to Federal
services. Dreaming does not change a pig into a swan, the same fundamental
flaws will remain in government bureaucracy.
Legislation won't fix the flaws.
Competition does...There are private initiatives to provide better care
to low income that look promising...check out Project Access in
Witchita, KS By using a different model than the "for profit" medical
accounting systems in most hospitals and replacing that with a
provider matrix of pro-bono percentage of patients, repriced for
scaled services, contractual liability reduction, care provider/care
recipient contracts for care dependent on responsible behavior, and
quite a few new ideas. Such new vision, but young programs may
be a revolution we are on the front end of. It smells a little like
quality.
Otherwise, what are our choices?
let the lawyers fix medicine...
hardly, they a twisting the justice system up
let the hospital organizations fix it...
they waste immense amounts of goods and charge the patient
they hide duplicate charges and multiple pass throughs on services
they deliberately miss-bill and claim innocence while siccing the
collection agencies on the patient.
Let the government fix it...
hardly, they can't even run medicare right. They fail to pay in less
than 180-240 days and even then they underpay and often make
the doctors take below cost negotiated fees, despite what they
post. Government can't do it.
Let the traditional AMA types fix it...
Hardly, they are a chaotic group of poorly run small businessmen
and businesspersons in 90% of cases who can't even invoice
clearly or complete paperwork competently.
Let the insurance folks fix it...
hardly, they have a vested interest in large inefficient work by
lowest paid front line staff whose bosses are more often
marketing, sales, or accountants, than health care people.
They disingenuously claim to help spread the risk, but deliberately
cherry pick the low risk and claim otherwise.
In other words, no single group in an US vs THEM situation will
ever have the capability to fix the problem, because they CAN"T
see it for what it is. A few visionaries with a clear idea, who don't
want to wait for someone else is likely to be the discoverers of
a new world...someone who while they may not know about
MoQ, know a dynamic quality in their vision and follow it.
From the soapbox...damn! Got me a splinter.
thanks--mel
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