I must say that I get quite worried when conservatives, private sector providers, and the unions for such providers (as in AMA and State Medical societies) embrace market healthcare as the panacea to all their problems. It may well be the panacea to THEIR PROBLEMS short term on paper, but I think it is only the beginning of big, big problems for many if not most patients. Down the road, I also think it is the end of medicine as a reliable profession, so if I am correct, providers and their unions just might want to think on this a bit!
Anyway, I want to throw a thought out there to the providers and provider union reps, but I do not wish any answers at this time because in their current market euphoria state, any answers are just not trustable at this stage. This is just food for thought.
When people go to providers under the current idea that the care is mostly paid for by the system, it really does increase the trust that the patient must have in the provider to use his knowledge and specific info for the benefit of the patient. However, when shopping for the lowest price is thrown into this mix, I just cannot help but wonder what kind of trusting relationships will or will not develop between patients and providers. To me there is just something smelly about quality care, price of that care, and access to what! If trust is lost or only equated to higher costs, the medical system will disintegrate in a sea of distrust and compromises that professionals know is wrong. But hey, you have got to make a buck!
Also, look at this link from the NYTIMES
See Poll