3 ms·
It isn't a dodge, and I'm not claiming a single-payer system "will automatically solve provider-side costs" (which is an odd thing for you to put in quotes, sin
by CharlesColeman 7y ago
It isn't a dodge, and I'm not claiming a single-payer system "will automatically solve provider-side costs" (which is an odd thing for you to put in quotes, since I said no such thing). What I am saying is that such a system opens up avenues to pressure providers that aren't available in other systems (or are more easy for providers to escape [1]), and that potential gets us closer to solving those problems. After that, it's a question of political will to use those powers.
[1] e.g. by refusing to accept Medicare patients or by charging non-Medicare patients more to compensate. The alternatives to the single-payer for providers (e.g. concierge medicine) are likely to be far more limited.
- tptacek 7y agoSorry, I didn't mean to attribute those words to you, but I could have been clearer. What I'm saying is that there's no evidence that an M4A system would have any more ability to push back on provider costs than new federal regulations that didn't switch to a single payer model wouldn't be able to do, and further, no evidence that any of the existing M4A plans really target costs at all.