[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

GREAT post! Much to consider here, much of merit.


I'm just sure all the major deadstream media will have this as their lead story tomorrow. /SARCASM off

[jagrmeister]

I think Friedman has a great point regarding the effects of third-party payer. It takes away quality control and the role that consumer choice has in keep costs to a minimum.

[Jaysun]

Great Scott that's a long one! He has some excellent points and ideas. My lone idea has always been to convince insurance companies to offer their customers an incentive to save money. For example, the insurance company could tell the consumer that they'll send them some amount of cash in depending on how much of their coverage remains unused at the end of the year. That would get people to think before they agree to a lot of unnecessary test or doctor visits while also saving the insurance companies money. The prices would eventually work their way down. It's not the single pill that'll save the entire health care disease, but I think it deserves consideration.

[RWR8189]

Milton Friedman is amazing.

[endthematrix]

Health care is termed as a "handout" by Friedman, a "benefit" by employers, and a "right" by the DUmmies.

[lainde]

bump for later.

[Crackingham]

...employees are likely to do a better job of monitoring medical care providers—because it is in their own interest—than is the employer or the insurance company or companies.

Friedman really lost it on that one. While most of what he says makes a lot of sense, that one is just pure crap. Is he seriously trying to tell us that individual consumers monitor medical costs better than insurance companies. Has he even heard of how HMO's operate? There are a lot of good suggestions in that article, but I have no idea where he gets this notion that average Americans who know little or nothing about health care will somehow be able to do a BETTER job of aggressively monitoring the health care sector than insurance companies do. That just makes no sense.

[xzins]

Hey, Milt. Based on the tongue-in-cheek rule -- "Expenses accumulate to consume the available income."

Makes sense to me be it a family income or a set aside pot of money by an insurance company to pay for medical care.

[sevry]

Another keeper. Thanks you for posting. Reminds me why I once read Friedman.

[AmericanChef]

It's disgusting how employer-paid insurance is abused by employees. Every twinge and sniffle requires a doctor's appointment and no doubt antibiotics. "Oh, but it's FREE!" Then, these same employees complain when the premiums go up so much they now have to foot part of the bill, even if the cost of their premiums are now - $18!! OMG, I HAVE TO PAY $18 PER MONTH FOR MY OWN HEALTH?!? THAT'S AN OUTRAGE!!

[beckaz]

BUMP for later read.

BTW who is this Milton guy? Does he agree with JohnFopKerry's views on healthcare? Cuz if not, then Terayyyzza told me a while back that he must be an idiot...

Someone help me please. (/SARC)

[AFPhys]

Friedman is the greatest economist, and politico-economist, of our lifetimes. There have been others, and I know that he considers himself to be standing on the Giant shoulders of Hayek, but he is himself a Giant.

I will be sending this article to some relatives I had discussions with recently.
/

[krunkygirl]

bump and save

[Tribune7]

ping

[ken21]

friedman makes too much sense! (/s)

wait until hillary completes the socialization of medicine in 2009.

[stickywillie]

I don't understand why Milton didn't factor in the cost of malpractice insurance, and how that can be lessened. Someone 'splain that one to me.

[lilmsdangrus]

bump

[Carry_Okie]

Not much discussion of the impact of litigation, the subsidization of high-risk behavior, the need to subsidize preventative public health measures (that reduce total cost to everybody), or the fact that we spend 70% of our medical dollars on people who die within six months. In short, he writes about phenomena and payment systems rather than causes that induce higher costs.

To me, it was disappointing.

[Andy from Beaverton]

I'm surprised Friedman doesn't focus more upon the cost of regulations. Everyday in the Federal Register, the government creates new rules that increase the cost of health care. I worked for a medical records software company and we had to look in the register everyday to find new rules are laws that effect our business with the hospitals. Doctors only need one nurse and one staff person for records, now offices are filled with paper pushers.

[Tax-chick]

later