A suggestion for single-payer advocates

[ccr1138.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who is a pediatrician and a strong advocate for government-run, single-payer health insurance. To her and all her friends who have formed an organization to fight for socialized medicine, I say this:

If you truly believe in single payer, why not set up your practice now so you ONLY take Medicaid patients? This is a serious suggestion; I’m not trying to be snide. Medicaid patients have an extremely difficult time finding doctors because the government doesn’t pay very much for those services. But if we went to single-payer, EVERYBODY would be like a Medicaid patient. If you truly think that’s best, and you’re willing to take lower compensation for your work for the public good, why not start now? You could significantly reduce your paperwork and staff requirements because you wouldn’t have to hassle with all the different providers. It would be a win/win, and it would be ethically consistent with your stance against private insurance.

My doctor in Canada said he received $8 for a patient visit. That’s Canadian dollars, mind you. Do you think that would work for you?

Comments

[merig00.livejournal.com]

It all depends on the region where you live. When we just moved to USA and lived in Brooklyn we would go to a russian speaking GP. And we had an experience just like rosicrucian describes. That was because there are only so many russian-speaking doctors out there and they mosty cater to grandmas who are on SSI and medicare/aid and have nothing better to do but to go treat something. Now we moved to jersey and the only problem is finding a good local doctor. No waiting in lines, and doctor's office calls you in advance to remind you of your appointment. I'm not even talking about getting cards on holidays from them.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

Of course it depends on the region. Which is why a federal "solution" won't work. Unless it involved getting rid of the ridiculous caps on the number of doctors allowed.

[merig00.livejournal.com]

Yeah I want to see how this system will work out in states like Oregon.