Re:Banks, QE, and Money-Printing
by lotsofpulp on Tuesday November 03, 2020 @02:33PM
(#24983099)
Bringing the price of healthcare down simply has to do with increasing the supply of healthcare providers and medicine. Technically, I guess the nation could also work on reducing the demand side of healthcare by promoting better diets and exercise, but I won't hold my breath on that one.
The prior is already happening with the introduction of PA and NPs taking over roles that MD/DOs used to do (for better or for worse, I've seen many discussions on how PA/NP education is very lacking and the bar to qualify is too low, which I agree with).
I don't know much about increasing supply of medicine, but that probably has to do with patent reform and/or FDA approvals for slightly modified medications.
There's also probably something about liability and litigiousness that is a factor of higher prices in the US.
I DO have a problem with paying at least 50% more than the next highest spending countries like Switzerland or Norway - all with excellent healthcare systems - probably better than the US (except for the very high-end)