Pipe dream? Obamacare

mac · Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:35 pm Post subject:

Nonsense on tort reform. there have been several efforts, sponsored by GOP legislators, to provide so-called tort relief. They haven't budged the dial. It's a minor cost used to justify behavior that generates greater fees. The problem is the fee for service system. Obamacare does a little, not enough, about that.

My brother, with no college degree and minimal understanding of medical procedures, has made big money selling medical equipment. Profit rates at drug companies have run over 30% in a year. Those are cost centers. Tell me again how competition will fix them.

techno900 · Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161

coboardhead · Joined: 26 Oct 2009 Posts: 4303

Mac..disagree on tort reform. Studies have addressed the actual cost of litigation, awards and insurance but do not adequately address defensive medicine.

I know how often my physician friends and family talk about how the legal environment affects their practices An excuse to make more money??? That's "nonsense".

keycocker · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 3598

you are right. The link was posted by nw . thanks for finally pointing that out. my apologies for the wrong attribution.
now how about the fact that your posts directed at me almost always begin with an insult?
NW and I agree at times, other times we don't.
He does not address me in that fashion so I enjoy our discussion.

nw30 · Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:39 pm Post subject:

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

Why weren't Republicans able to sell tort reform? It's not necessarily a bad idea, and it had the potential to be a productive element of change, but where were the bulk of other ideas coming from Republicans addressing health care reform? In reality, they weren't really serious and didn't have the vision to tackle the problem. Overall, they came to the table with virtually nothing to offer. They couldn't even embrace a conservative based plan drafted by the Heritage Foundation that they once supported. In the end, their hate for President Obama was their guiding light, so they were totally committed to stifling any reform. Even today Republicans could introduce tort reform legislation, but they won't because it would signal an acceptance of the ACA. The truth is so telling.

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

NW30, why isn't private industry entering the competition for all the lucrative business opportunities out there? Where are all the "job creators"? Lots of folks with tons of money, so what's the problem?

nw30 · Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 4:20 pm Post subject:

mac · Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 4:38 pm Post subject:

CB--I apologize for the rudeness of my term nonsense, but we have tried Tort reform in California. A look at it from the perspective of attorney's who are worried about patients being left out:

coboardhead · Joined: 26 Oct 2009 Posts: 4303

Of course tort reform would not be a cure all. However, EVERY single element in health care needs to be addressed to reduce costs.

Colorado enacted tort reform about 15 years ago...a cap on non economic damages. My wife's insurance dropped by over 50 percent from what it was prior to tort reform. Even more if you factor inflation. I knew a OBGYN who had a 6 figure insurance bill. He quit delivering babies (only GYN) and the rates dropped to a fraction of what they were. Large awards for pain and suffering for parents of bad babies were driving physicians away from OB.

How much money did John Edwards make from suing Doctors? These costs are real. If your want to assign greed maybe some of these lawyers should be in the cross hairs.