As the Obama stimulus plan unfolds, the signed legislation is starting to propagate with details of what was exactly in the 1,100 page document.
One item that stood out was a broad Healthcare IT program to create an electronic database for medical records, which lays the ground work for government subsidized universal healthcare.
I respect those who have experience with certain aspects of life and in traveling and speaking to others who live in a country with a government subsidized healthcare system, the resounding comeback when asked about their level of healthcare is “Yeah government healthcare for everyone is great – just don’t get sick”.
What most people don’t realize is that in government subsidized healthcare systems, doctors are mere followers as opposed to leaders when it comes to diagnosing and treating illnesses. Diagnosis and treatments are regulated by fixed medical protocols as established by the government. In turn, medical services are approved or rejected based on the cost of the treatment and what stage a particular individual is at in their life.
One aspect of the bill does just this and identifies “Comparative Effectiveness Research” which in laymen’s terms sets the stage for government bureaucrats to determine who will receive what treatment and also decides to what extent the treatment will be carried out.
Considering the methodology of countries who currently employ a universal healthcare model, a likely scenario for a 55 year old male who gets sick and goes to his doctor will likely progress as follows:
1) Doctor evaluates the man and submits request in government electronic database for MRI diagnostic testing as it appears to be a serious condition requiring immediate attention.
2) Medical Government Official (MGO) reviews request and then disapproves it recommending that blood tests be done first.
3) Doctor directs patient to go for blood test. Doctor receives blood test results corroborating, once again, that there may be a serious health problem.
4) Doctor re-submits request for diagnostic MRI procedure. MGO reviews request and passes on to higher government authority for approval based on the high cost of the MRI procedure.
5) MGO receives approval from higher authority and in turn sends approval to doctor and patient for MRI procedure.
6) MRI test is conducted and serious condition is identified by doctor who in turn submits request through electronic database for costly operation.
7) MGO reviews request with the estimated cost of the operation and based on the patients age determines that a certain type of medication should be prescribed first and rejects request for operation.
Doctor prescribes medication and the patient’s condition worsens.
9) Doctor re-submits request for operation and based on the cost once again forwards to higher authority for authorization.
10) Higher authority denies request and MGO notifies doctor that request has been denied, however recommends another medicine.
11) And on it goes……….
If the above scenario seems farfetched, I would simply remind you that all government programs and agencies have annual budget’s. The budget is tracked throughout the year and certain cash outlays are evaluated on a monthly basis as it relates to the remaining dollars in the budget.
Therefore, the only way to manage cost would be to ration healthcare in order to maintain the budget. Some months may be better than others in terms of available healthcare yet the fact that it is capped and managed leaves the average joe with little assurance that he will receive medical care when he needs it.
The quality of universal healthcare is most damaging to patients when it comes to wait times. The average patient in Canada will wait anywhere between 2-3 months for an MRI and up to 18 weeks to see a specialist.
In the United Kingdom, you would be lucky to make it into the O.R. in less than 6 months for a major surgery and if dental work were needed may take up to a year for the simple fact that most dentists will not accept the government’s insurance.
You can make the argument about our own insurance companies delaying authorizations and questioning your doctors method of treatment. However, you have considerably more leverage by going to your human resource department who has the power to intervene on your behalf. Whereas in a government subsidized domain you would simply be disregarded.
Additionally, the notion that government subsidized universal healthcare is free could not be farther from the truth. As with any government sponsored program that serves the publics interest they expect you to pay for it via higher taxes and in most cases if you want better treatment options have to pay for it out of your own pocket.
The very idea of government subsidized healthcare is promoted with the impression that everyone will receive equal care. This is not the case and is why countries who offer universal healthcare have additional programs or options that you can upgrade to in order to receive better care.
The fact that better options exist for those who can afford it brings the argument back full circle in that those who cannot afford to upgrade to a better medical plan receive lesser care. Therefore, universal healthcare promotes the very problem it is trying to solve – availability of equal medical care for all individuals in a society.
Therefore, government sponsored healthcare is deceitful in design as it is nothing more than a vehicle to justify higher taxes. When the program is found to be inefficient it is de-funded, however taxes remain at current levels and the search for the next social experiment begins.