[Georgia Girl 2]

This is just the next step toward single payer which is a couple of years down the road.

[Rockitz]

Actually, I have seen the single-payer system in China first hand as my family has been there so many times that we have had occasion to go to the hospital numerous times. There are reasons it works there that could never translate to here for four major reasons. The medical process here is controlled by the well-moneyed interests including:

1) AMA and their member doctors,
2) Big hospital and medical device corporations,
3) Big Pharmaceutical Companies
4) Politicians who take campaign contributions from these 3

This combination sometimes helps quality, but most times just makes these special interests a lot of money. Changing the momentum of these special interests would be like turning an aircraft carrier on a dime.

There are good things about the Chinese implementation of single payer health care

1, An oversupply of doctors there, whereas here the AMA and medical schools severely restrict the number of new doctors produced each year.
2. Inexpensive doctors and medicine compared to here, although training is limited and medicines are many times limited to those that were developed years ago.
3. Significantly more availability of IV medicine which is the best way to receive many medications. (visualize rooms full of people seated, getting their medicine by IV)
4. Doctors eventually get very well trained, due to the shear volume of patients they see.

...and there are drawbacks

1. Training of doctors is not as extensive as here so some new doctors are very inexperienced.
2. Lines for everything- specialists, medicine, paying the bill (it's a whole day process)
3. There appear to be limits on the types of procedures, medicines, and specialists available to the common man.

We had connections since both my in-laws are doctors and my wife is trained as an anesthesiologist. Accordingly, we got special treatment (at times) in the form of skipping lines, access to specialists, and medicines that others didn't. They have doctors who will accept a red envelope (cash payment) in exchange for preferred treatment. It is illegal, but that's how the wealthy get past the lines.