I wish to thank Mike for bringing these to my attention. RK
A Look At HIX: Health Insurance Exchanges
This HND piece gives you a peek under the hood of one of the most important portions of Obamacare. As I keep telling anyone who will listen, the main problem with Obamacare is that it was put together by people who don't know anything about how health care is delivered in the real world, and think that the solution to every problem is more bureaucracy.
Actually, it's even worse than that. They also believe that physicians, nurses, and the rest of the "providers" aren't nearly as important as their infernal systems. Heck, these exchanges are based on the absurd notion of managed competition. But, managed competition only works if there are ALREADY in place perfectly functioning health networks.
Thus, in its most ideal sense, managed competition only works in situations where it is not needed. Just one of the many problems with this mess.
The concept of defined contribution (DC) health plans, as opposed to defined benefits are explored, as well. Some people tout DC as "the answer," and it is...to the wrong question.
What about the providers?
This HND piece examines the tragic--and quite purposeful--devaluation of the healing arts. It's no accident that physicians became "providers," and that the universe of providers itself became parsed out into mid-level and lower designations.
All of this, allegedly, is to save money. Clearly, though, it's not working since the US still spends way more for health care, to produce worse results, than any other first world country. How come no one seems to care about saving money on, say, athletes--who are catered to and subsidized for their entire lives?
These days, the docs are saddled with huge debt, and emerge into a health care system where the compensation has dropped drastically. If they're lucky, they'll pay off their debts in around ten years. Run the numbers, and they'd be better off learning a construction trade.
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