Look at Europe. Do they have head nurses who make $135K? Do they have hospital administrators who make $400K? Do they have knee surgeons who make $800K? Do they have salesmen for drug companies who make $250K? If you walk into a hospital in Europe, do you see a marble floor, designer furniture, free wi-fi, and a receptionist who looks like a fashion model?
Spent a lot of time in Europe back in the 70s and 80s. Italy has nationalized healthcare. A doctor may have a private practice but must devote at least 1 day per week, ,working in a clinic. The population, of course, is much smaller than here. When my mil was diagnosed with stomach cancer, she was put on a list for surgery. She would have been dead by the time her number was reached. The solution? "Tip" a doctor (in this case, her bil), to have her number bumped up higher. The "tip", back then, was $5,000.
No system is perfect but the author makes an excellent point.
Once the government enters into the fray, things get even murkier. Our unlimited sense of entitlement combined with politicians’ desire to curry favor with voters creates a perfect storm of escalating costs, distant oversight, arbitrary decisions, and the demand for perfect solutions. Few market forces are in play to keep costs in check and to maintain supply/demand equilibrium.
Do they have hospital administrators who make $400K?
You are a little behind the times... Our local hospital administrators make millions of dollars a year, not $400K.
Just curious what you think doctors and nurses should be paid?
“Do they have head nurses who make $135K? Do they have hospital administrators who make $400K? Do they have knee surgeons who make $800K? Do they have salesmen for drug companies who make $250K?. “
You don’t need to look to Europe, just look back a few decades here in the US. What’s happened is the cozy relationship between corporate health providers and the insurance cartel.