[Eric in the Ozarks]

Each state in the US has an agency charged with reviewing the need for these costly machines and services. Hospitals cannot just buy an MRI because the hospital down the street has one. Likewise the need for special surgery teams, "heart centers," etc., is reviewed for its need in the community it serves. This is a congressional mandate based on the fact that our hospitals care for Medicare (federal) and Medicaid (state paid) as well as private coverage patients. Without the agency's approval, federal and state money is withheld.
What Canada has done to control costs is to put in a ridged system of rationing with the US dialed in as the unofficial relief valve. If the US system did not exist, the Canadian system would fail completely.

[Protagoras]

This guy is being pretty quiet. I'm guessing he is trying to avoid the big ZOT.

If he appears on the moderators or Robinson's radar screen, I'm guessing he's gone. But I'll never tell, it's nice to have the ocassional commie here for target practice. :^}