October 6, 2009

Comments from the uninvited

Dr. Donald Palmisano, Dr. William G. Plested II, and Dr. Daniel H. Johnson, Jr. all have one thing in common: they were all left out of President Obama's Rose Garden event where he touted the benefits of socialized medicine.

After reading their Op/Ed in the Wall Street Journal, I think I can see why President Obama left them off the guest list, and I can also see why the Wall Street Journal published their piece.

From the article:

The United States has the best health care in the world today, and thanks to the ever-expanding frontiers of science and medical innovation the brightest days are ahead. It is true that there are Americans who fall through the cracks of our medical system every day—and as a caring nation, we must do what we can to expand access to medical care to those who need it. But this can be accomplished without a costly and inefficient government overhaul of the entire system. One easy reform would be to enable individuals to buy policies offered in any state, not just where they live. This will enhance competition. But more government-run health insurance will only lead to disaster.

.....Today, Medicare already reimburses doctors less than what many of their treatments cost to provide. Now the government is saying that additional Medicare cuts are coming—thus forcing doctors to try and make up the difference in volume, by seeing more patients. If you ask patients about this, they understand that more volume means less time with the doctor. That's something that all patients and doctors should oppose. In time, it will be difficult to find a physician.

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