Comments on: US Healthcare leadership—an oxymoron (part 2) http://www.leadershipturn.com/us-healthcare-leadership-an-oxymoron-part-2/ Articles, tips, and resources about leadership. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:44:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Miki Saxon http://www.leadershipturn.com/us-healthcare-leadership-an-oxymoron-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-879 Miki Saxon Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:44:29 +0000 http://www.leadershipturn.com/us-healthcare-leadership%e2%80%94an-oxymoron-part-2/#comment-879 Denis, I don't have those answers, but I do know that doctors and other healthcare professionals, even the <a href="http://www.leadershipturn.com/another-new-feature-leaders-dont/" rel="nofollow">most highly paid</a> frequently cheat the system. And because they have no clout the un- and under-insured are <a href="http://www.leadershipturn.com/leaders-who-dont-why-theres-no-leadership-on-one-hand-and-bad-leadership-on-the-other/" rel="nofollow">screwed</a> far more often. I won't state my own thoughts on the insurance and pharmaceutical companies because it's family-friendly and the only blue allowed is the color scheme. Denis, I don’t have those answers, but I do know that doctors and other healthcare professionals, even the most highly paid frequently cheat the system. And because they have no clout the un- and under-insured are screwed far more often. I won’t state my own thoughts on the insurance and pharmaceutical companies because it’s family-friendly and the only blue allowed is the color scheme.

]]> By: Denis http://www.leadershipturn.com/us-healthcare-leadership-an-oxymoron-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-914 Denis Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:08:15 +0000 http://www.leadershipturn.com/us-healthcare-leadership%e2%80%94an-oxymoron-part-2/#comment-914 You have a few questions to answer before trying to make a comparison with other countries: is it opt-in, opt-out or mandatory ? how do you want to finance it (federal tax, medicare style tax, payment to an administrative body...) ? what do you want it to cover (everything, only major procedures, hospital visits but not doctor visits...) ? In France for instance it is mandatory, paid to an administration from your salary and it covers everything (but you may have a copay). This translates into a very expensive bill for young working adults and a very cheap one for families. It also translate into a feeling of entitlement which sometimes leads to abuse of the system. Finally prices are regulated for hospitals, doctors and drugs which means that healthcare professionals are also tempted to cheat the system to maximize revenue. Of course in the US, there is no need to cheat the system because insurance and pharmaceutical companies own it. You have a few questions to answer before trying to make a comparison with other countries:
is it opt-in, opt-out or mandatory ?
how do you want to finance it (federal tax, medicare style tax, payment to an administrative body…) ?
what do you want it to cover (everything, only major procedures, hospital visits but not doctor visits…) ?

In France for instance it is mandatory, paid to an administration from your salary and it covers everything (but you may have a copay). This translates into a very expensive bill for young working adults and a very cheap one for families. It also translate into a feeling of entitlement which sometimes leads to abuse of the system. Finally prices are regulated for hospitals, doctors and drugs which means that healthcare professionals are also tempted to cheat the system to maximize revenue.

Of course in the US, there is no need to cheat the system because insurance and pharmaceutical companies own it.

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