|
![[Under Construction]](images/undercon.gif)
| |
(these are collapsed outlines. click on bullet to open up)
 | Single Payer. .Canada & U.S. studies. Canada's Health Care System (MEDICARE) is a
single payer system, that has turned into a two payer system since the
government's portion of health care is now down to about 60% and dropping.
Few in the US, and apparently quite a few in Canada understand this system
and the profound changes it is experiencing. I was stunned to find
predictions that in some provinces over 40% of the budget would go into this
system--and private insurance would still be needed! Health care is
now a 'political football' in Alberta and Ontario, as the governments in
these Provinces make up for federal shortfalls, decide whether education or
health is more important, and attempt to privatize elements of the system to
prevent huge deficits and overcome service shortcomings.
 | Understanding Canadian Health Care...even
most Canadians don't understand how their system works. Governor King's
Commission relied on ONE researcher, and ignored?/disregarded? both
repositories of Canadian health care statistics, and think tanks like
the Fraser Institute. Even this author doesn't have a complete grasp of
their system and is somewhat a captive of the headlines in Alberta and
Ontario. But, like sailing into the wind, we can make headway with persistence
and identifying active Canadian groups; HOWEVER, Maine must not make a
decision without thoroughly studying and understanding Canada's system. |
| Other Single Payer Studies...Vermont is the latest state to invest in
major studies on the costs & benefits of converting to a single payer system. Their studies were released over last summer(2001) and were not reflected
in the debate leading up to Portland's referendum. Greg Scandlen has reviewed
and critiqued this study. There is a well funded national movement
to lobby states to adopt single payer plans, and in effect, eliminate
both private insurance companies and HMO's. Their web site is.. |
| To what level will health care benefits and coverage
be lowered under a single payer plan? Carefully
tucked away in the Vermont Study is the revelation that the scale of
benefits and reimbursement schedule is very similar to that of MEDICAID;
which from the perspective of most health care providers is insufficient
to maintain a decent practice, let alone earn a "living" wage.
But without this low level, the costs of a single payer plan would
exceed the costs of the current system. The answer is to 'supplement' a
single payer plan like Medicare; but the rejoinder is which insurance
companies would remain in the Maine market were a single payer system
which forces Anthem out of business be enacted? |
| Will a single payer plan save or cost more money? Or
put another way, "can government really run a better program at
less cost than a private insurance company"? This writer is
somewhat skeptical that State government can run the same quality of
organization as Anthem/Blue Cross--remember this is one of Maine's most
respected organizations in the eyes of BOTH employees and customers; and
at a comparable overhead given the fact that public monopolies tend to
bloat enormously. For example, the Casco Bay Weekly's estimated
the overhead in the Portland schools at over 50%!
 | MAine's Blue Ribbon Commission's estimate of
overhead savings. |
| Vermont's Bipartisan commission's estimate of
overhead savings. |
| The health insurance industry's view of the
savings. |
| The 'real' overhead in administering MEDICAID and
MEDICARE. |
|
|
|
Current surveys on the what role should Government play in providing
Health Care?
| Business & Commerce...Vermont
Bipartisan Commission on Health Care Availability and Affordability.
Since is is business which pays for health insurance as a
benefit, their views are critical to any final 'solution'. Surprisingly,
they are being ignored by the Coalition for Affordable Health care. Read
the formal survey taken for Vermont and draw your own conclusions.
The Portland Chamber of Commerce has an on-going program for its
members. They have found this:... . The CEO of SABRE yacht in CAsco
heads a business group. His group has stated: |
| General voter surveys in Maine.
Surveys funding by proponents of a single payer plan must be viewed with
considerable skepticism given the fact that many of these surveys 'push'
the respondent to support the outcome of the sponsor. The media report
the result, without ever scrutinizing the design, the question setups,
and the exactly who winds up answering the questions & why. |
|
|
What impact does chronic underpayment by the Government (MEDICAID &
MEDICARE) of Maine Health Care providers have on the availability and cost
of health insurance?
| "Cost Shifting" or someone else pays
for Government underpayments...definition. |
| Maine Hospital Association's view. |
| View from the Blue Ribbon commission |
|
|
Are insurance companies "greedy capitalist pigs"?
|
|
