The problem with HMOs is that they increase their profit by providing as little care as possible.

In the film "Sicko", one of the things shown is an actual recording of a conversation that took place in the Oval Office between Nixon and Ehrlichman in February 1971. Here is a transcript:

Ehrlichman: We have now narrowed down the Vice President's problems on this thing to one issue and that is whether we should include these Health Maintenance Organizations like Edgar Kaiser's Permanente thing

NIXON: Now let me ask you, You know I'm not too keen on any of these damn medical programs.

Ehrlichman: This is a private enterprise one

Nixon: Well, that appeals to me

Ehrlichman: Edgar Kaiser is running this Permanente deal for profit and the reason he can do it...I had Edgar Kaiser come in and talk to me about this and I went into it in some depth...All the incentatives are towards less medical care because the less care they give them, the more money they make

Nixon: Fine

Ehrlichman: and the incentives run the right way

Nixon: Not bad



The following day, Nixon gave a speech where he said the following:

"I am proposing today a new national health strategy, the purpose of this program is simply this, I want America to have the finest health care in the world and I want every American to be able to have that care when he needs it."



Perhaps the incentive should be to provide the best health care possible. I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure that is what most doctors would do if given the chance. But instead, they must deal with insurance companies who tell then what they can and cannot do, what drugs they can and cannot prescribe, and when they must refuse care to someone.

Come up with a system that has financial rewards for those who provide the best health care, and that is a private system I would support. But so far I have seen no such system anywhere in the world. Only a profit making system which encourages as little care as possible, and a non-profit system.

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my experience on X5world when I spend too much
time posting in political threads in the lounge...