Comments on: Access vs. Coverage

By: Kartik

Kartik — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 02:18:13 +0000

I think you hit the nail directly on the head Mr. Goodman!
In Canada, we have universal coverage (but you have to buy additional coverage because the provinces refuse to cover 77% of drugs approved by Health Canada, including cancer drugs) but access is far from universal.
This thing of the uninsured not receiving health care? Phooey… and profit is bad? In a competitive market, not AT ALL!!

By: Ralph F. Weber

Ralph F. Weber — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:51:14 +0000

[Response to John Graham’s comment on March 7, 2008 at 10:47]

Good point. Before Dr. Day was elected to the CMA, Canadian hospitals did not know how to bill at all.

By: John Graham

John Graham — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:47:57 +0000

[Response to Ralph F. Weber’s comment on March 5th, 2008 at 11:08 am]

So, there is more price transparency in a Canadian hospital than a U.S. hospital! This is a good thing, because there is no such thing as DSH or similar payments in Canada, so the hospital has nowhere to go to get paid for the uncompensated care.

By: Bohn D. Allen, MD.

Bohn D. Allen, MD. — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:11:00 +0000

Good show! I think the alert calls attention to what you and I were discussing the other night before the telecast. Coverage does not equate to access in a system that pays less than the cost to produce the service. I think there is some economic axiom that states that. In my case, it was my Dad when I left home. He told me, “Son if you sell your service or product for less than it cost you, you can’t make it up on volume.”

Thanks for your continued insightful analysis of the health care landscape.

By: Ralph F. Weber

Ralph F. Weber — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:08:50 +0000

Signs like this are starting to pop up in Canadian emergency rooms:

By: Ralph F. Weber

Ralph F. Weber — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:07:58 +0000

Marcy,

It’s not about access or coverage; it’s about them regulating our health.

By: Regina Herzlinger

Regina Herzlinger — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:04:53 +0000

Bravo!

By: Joel White

Joel White — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:02:36 +0000

I support access.

By: Nick E

Nick E — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:52:09 +0000

Excellent as usual, Dr. Goodman.

The AMA as part of the solution to this? I know too many internists and family practitioners who’ve come to see it as the income-preservation PAC of specialists.

By: Chris Ewin

Chris Ewin — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:14:20 +0000

John,
Well said…
Their is a big difference b/n universal access and universal “health” care. I totally agree with Marcy on the more accurate terminology…”accident and health insurance.”
We need more quality driven models, not volume driven models…Chris
M…you’re staying up too late..