Comments on: CBO, Health, and the Budget http://wallstreetpit.com/8523-cbo-health-and-the-budget Tue, 22 May 2012 19:21:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Daniel Habtemariam http://wallstreetpit.com/8523-cbo-health-and-the-budget#comment-38405 Daniel Habtemariam Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:45:12 +0000 http://wallstreetpit.com/?p=8523#comment-38405 Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die. We want everything done, and we want it all for Walmart-level prices. It's ridiculous. I'm not a nurse like you, but I work in a large hospital, and I see it all the time. While most other countries have a pyramid-shaped cost structure where they pay for everyone's basic and preventative care first and then tackle secondary care and advanced procedures later, we have this crazy upside-down pyramid where we're paying first for all the most expensive procedures on the relatively few and try to work our way up from there. The money runs out, and it runs out with so few people getting good primary care and wellness. And you couldn't more right about the costs of doing nothing: http://www.cbo.gov/publications/collections/health.cfm The problem boils down journalism being a business in this country and not a public service. Unfortunately, details about what healthcare costs will do the federal budget in 20-30 years does not sell as many newspapers (or get as many ratings) as the face-to-face horse race of Democrats vs. Republicans on whatever's going on. Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.

We want everything done, and we want it all for Walmart-level prices. It’s ridiculous. I’m not a nurse like you, but I work in a large hospital, and I see it all the time.

While most other countries have a pyramid-shaped cost structure where they pay for everyone’s basic and preventative care first and then tackle secondary care and advanced procedures later, we have this crazy upside-down pyramid where we’re paying first for all the most expensive procedures on the relatively few and try to work our way up from there. The money runs out, and it runs out with so few people getting good primary care and wellness.

And you couldn’t more right about the costs of doing nothing:
http://www.cbo.gov/publications/collections/health.cfm
The problem boils down journalism being a business in this country and not a public service. Unfortunately, details about what healthcare costs will do the federal budget in 20-30 years does not sell as many newspapers (or get as many ratings) as the face-to-face horse race of Democrats vs. Republicans on whatever’s going on.

]]> By: cheryl http://wallstreetpit.com/8523-cbo-health-and-the-budget#comment-36279 cheryl Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:08:52 +0000 http://wallstreetpit.com/?p=8523#comment-36279 We keep hearing about the costs of a new program...what are the comparative costs of doing nothing? Why is it that we hear nothing about the costs of futile care? Most of our health care $ are spent at the end of life...on futile care because we as americans "want everything done". That everything is costing millions and locking out those people who need surgery or a hospital bed. You will have to die to get in. Why aren't people talking about this? I am an ICU RN for 25 years...lack of beds are at a fever pitch. I take care of mostly dying people. Some great saves...but millions(yes we count it up sometimes)of $ are wasted. Everyone worries about being "denied" care...you should take a walk in my shoes. We keep hearing about the costs of a new program…what are the comparative costs of doing nothing? Why is it that we hear nothing about the costs of futile care? Most of our health care $ are spent at the end of life…on futile care because we as americans “want everything done”. That everything is costing millions and locking out those people who need surgery or a hospital bed. You will have to die to get in. Why aren’t people talking about this? I am an ICU RN for 25 years…lack of beds are at a fever pitch. I take care of mostly dying people. Some great saves…but millions(yes we count it up sometimes)of $ are wasted. Everyone worries about being “denied” care…you should take a walk in my shoes.

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