If a public plan is inserted into private insurance markets, the American health-care system could rapidly evolve into a single-payer system, which would have d

If a public plan is inserted into private insurance markets, the American health-care system could rapidly evolve into a single-payer system, which would have devastating effects on R&D for new medical technology. The author underestimates the power of prestige in regards to medical R&D. I worked outside of Boston for a number of years as critical care nurse, and there's _tons_ of research that goes on because of Harvard Medical School, Boston University Med School and Tufts. And, a lot of those physicians compete with each other to publish research. Why? Not because they are financially reimbursed, but because they get prestige. Once prestige and published research gets to a certain point, the doctors can spend more time on the lecture circuit.