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Ambitious California bill would put the state in charge of prices in the healthcare market (tr)
The Los Angeles Times ^ | April 9, 2018 | By MELANIE MASON

Posted on 04/09/2018 12:30:31 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

In one of the most aggressive efforts in the nation to curb soaring healthcare spending, a new California measure would put the state in charge of setting prices for hospital stays, doctor's visits and most other medical services covered by commercial insurers.

The bill, backed by labor unions and consumer groups, is certain to rouse fierce opposition from physicians and hospitals, setting the stage for a brawl between some of the Capitol's top lobbying heavyweights. Proponents also face friction on the left from advocates of single-payer healthcare, who espouse an alternate vision of how to overhaul the state's healthcare.

Despite the political hurdles, an effort to rein in prices is tantalizing for policymakers, as healthcare costs gobble up more of state budgets, employers' bottom lines and workers' paychecks.

"It's quite bold," said Kristof Stremikis, director of market analysis with the nonprofit California Health Care Foundation. "I'm not surprised that a proposal like this has been put forward. I don't think many people would disagree with the assertion that healthcare costs in the state are far too high."

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: biggovernment; california; healthinsurance; socialism
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To paraphrase Milton Friedman, economists may not know much, but they do know how to produce a shortage or surplus. Price ceilings, which prevent prices from exceeding a certain maximum, cause shortages.
1 posted on 04/09/2018 12:30:31 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Sure. Cause socialized medicine has worked so well before.

Standby for doctors and nurses in Cali to go Galt.


2 posted on 04/09/2018 12:33:12 PM PDT by rjsimmon (The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Are they going to outlaw trial lawyers, too?


3 posted on 04/09/2018 12:33:54 PM PDT by Ancient Man
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

What could go wrong? /s


4 posted on 04/09/2018 12:34:07 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Since the 13th amendment effectively banned involuntary servitude, what will the state do when intelligent, ambitious people decide NOT to become doctors, nurses and health care technicians?


5 posted on 04/09/2018 12:34:25 PM PDT by WayneS (An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last. - Winston Churchill.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Shades of directive 10-289


6 posted on 04/09/2018 12:36:16 PM PDT by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Perhaps CA can work it so that healthcare is rationed to the elderly, thus trimming the greater cost of state pensions. Killing two birds with one stone.


7 posted on 04/09/2018 12:37:00 PM PDT by txrefugee
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To: rjsimmon

And California will declare that if doctors and health care providers don’t or won’t take an immediate 40% pay cut it will because they are greedy, racists, and lack compassion.

Watch.


8 posted on 04/09/2018 12:40:00 PM PDT by Obadiah (Truth is hate speech to those who hate truth.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Price controls? Oh, yeah, that really worked for Nixon.


9 posted on 04/09/2018 12:40:25 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Liberals, IMO, would love to decide who lives and who dies via restricting healtcare, don’t ya know?


10 posted on 04/09/2018 12:40:56 PM PDT by ExTexasRedhead
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To: WayneS
what will the state do when intelligent, ambitious people decide NOT to become doctors, nurses and health care technicians?

They'll just relax the licensing requirements so anyone can do it.

11 posted on 04/09/2018 12:40:57 PM PDT by bankwalker (Immigration without assimilation is an invasion.)
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To: WayneS

Doctors can move to other states to make more money and ease the waiting periods...


12 posted on 04/09/2018 12:41:32 PM PDT by ltc8k6
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To: WayneS
...what will the state do when intelligent, ambitious people decide NOT to become doctors, nurses and health care technicians?"

Not to worry. Nancy Pelosi has assured us there are busloads of highly qualified people among the new undocumented voters pouring across the southern border.

13 posted on 04/09/2018 12:46:36 PM PDT by Senator_Blutarski
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Becoming Venezuela.


14 posted on 04/09/2018 12:49:07 PM PDT by gogeo (excellent!)
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To: WayneS
Meet your new physician, Dr. Clachmed. Don't pay any mind to the explosion in mortality rates...

-PJ

15 posted on 04/09/2018 12:49:13 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (The 1st Amendment gives the People the right to a free press, not CNN the right to the 1st question.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Good job Democrats...health care is now—and will always be—a politicized blunt instrument.


16 posted on 04/09/2018 12:49:39 PM PDT by GSWarrior
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Good job Democrats...health care is now—and will always be—a politicized blunt instrument.


17 posted on 04/09/2018 12:50:18 PM PDT by GSWarrior
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To: WayneS

Import TWAs, of course.


18 posted on 04/09/2018 12:50:38 PM PDT by Calvin Locke
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

‘When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators.’

PJ O’Rourke


19 posted on 04/09/2018 12:53:41 PM PDT by Kozak (DIVERSITY+PROXIMITY=CONFLICT)
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To: Nifster

Amen to that! What could go wrong.... scary....


20 posted on 04/09/2018 1:03:34 PM PDT by buffyt (Ding dong the bomberÂ’s dead! HeÂ’s gone where goblins go, below below below below!)
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