I've been saying the American health care system was headed for a meltdown since maybe the 90s? What I am seeing right now looks like that meltdown. We have nursing shortages that are getting steadily worse while nursing training has been interrupted. Rural medical facilities and hospitals are closing, and unless Biden can shoot them a bunch of money, a lot more will close, putting more pressure on other facilities. Yes, vaccines are coming. But after the immediate crisis, we will have to deal with the horrific mess. That includes things like getting everyone access to routine health care. It will prob have to include pay raises for nurses. It will definitely have to include support for needed medical facilities in areas that can't afford the basics. This would have been so much easier if we hadn't waited until the house was on fire. But it's where we are.
America rarely does anything by choice, we have to be dragged and screaming to the issue before we act
How is this possible? Trumpers were telling me that hospitals were raking in the $$$$$ by forging COVID death certificates.
But we have Obamacare which is the greatest thing ever in America. Are you telling us it doesn't work?
The problem is that you can't get everyone access to healthcare. Because a hell of a lot of people simply aren't interested in taking the first step to acquire it. Which is establishing a relationship with a GP.
Exactly so. Hospital in a big city a thousand beds or more small rural hospital 30 beds. Income from a thousand beds enough for the latest tech gadgets and the people to man them to say nothing of dealing with ever increasing ever more burdensome government rules and regulations. 30 Beds you're lucky if you can afford a used x ray machine.
A lot of people don't go to a GP because they know they couldn't afford the cost of any tests, medications etc. that might be needed. In this way, many illnesses and conditions progress unchecked and ultimately become not only far more expensive to treat, but end up being paid for by providers and taxpayers and the insured (through higher premiums). Avoiding primary care also applies to people with insurance, who know they'll have difficulty with deductibles/out-of-pocket expenses. Again, this can ultimately result in more expensive treatment which has a knock-on effect on everyone else's premiums.
A lot of people didn't go to a GP after ACA gave them meficaid, they just showed up at the emergency ward as they always had whenever they didn't feel well. There is no law you can pass that will make irresponsible people suddenly behave responsibly.
I'm not sure what the actual statistics - if any are available - would show to support/negate this claim, and quantify it. And again, the problem applies to people with insurance too. Bottom line is, it's a vicious cycle whereby primary care deterred by costs created higher costs, exacerbating the deterrent. This makes primary care a key factor in lessening costs, for everyone. And yes, education on the benefits of early intervention should be part of the picture.
That's not what Obama said when he pushed it. He never once said it was incomplete nor did any Democrat. The right said it wouldn't work and we were correct.
The rural co-op I go to for $50/mo seems to be doing quite well for itself. My healthcare is cheaper than my cat's, although so far that is 100% because I brush my own teeth...