The other joke, that I believe these administrators are probably well aware of, is that the demand for services will actually be LOWER. That’s because with higher deductibles and more people losing their insurance than gaining insurance, fewer people will be willing to undergo elective services because of substantial higher out of pocket costs. Hospitals will not be willing to take on people with high deductibles because collections will be a big problem and that’s the margin.
There could be a silver lining however. With more people underinsured and uninsured, a cash pay competitive market could emerge. That is unless the communists snuff it out.
Here is the crucial quote that reveals the long term mindset. The communists want the hospitals and providers to be paid per person (capitation). That way the incentive for the hospital and providers will be to deny care, just like the insurance company and just like the government payer. Hospitals and providers will provide just enough care to prevent a big lawsuit, nothing more. That’s a very low standard. Here’s a cane instead of hip or knee surgery.
“One of the changes in the federal law, he said, means moving from a reimbursement system where hospitals get paid for providing a high volume of care “to now getting paid to manage chronic conditions and keep them out of hospitals and as healthy as we possibly can.”
Also, that means that only the rich will be able to afford those procedures as they can pay for them and the care that is needed. Affordable care for the wealthy only.