Bill Richardson: The problem with healthcare in the United States is that we rely too much on doctors
By Jeff Emanuel Posted in Bill Richardson | Democrats | Health care — Comments (20) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
According to the Wall Street Journal, Democrat presidential candidate Bill Richardson is, on the campaign trail, touting the benefits of "holistic and spiritual medicine" and their inclusion in his health care plan. From the WSJ blog:
Responding to a question Saturday at a living-room gathering in snowy Des Moines, the first-tier-wannabe candidate touted his state’s expertise with nontraditional methods of healing.
"In my state, New Mexico, we’ve got more holistic healing than you do. I appreciate that kind of medical care. I appreciate dietary supplements. I appreciate oriental medicine. I think we have to open up health care delivery and access. You know how the doctors are. They want to keep it to themselves," he said. Under a Richardson administration, government health programs would pay for alternative therapies, he said.
Yikes.
h/t The Carpetbagger Report, which adds (Read on):
So, to hear the governor tell it, part of the problem with healthcare in the United States is that we rely too much on doctors? Richardson believes we have the resources to invest in reality-based healthcare and an alternate system of “spiritual” medicine that isn’t peer reviewed, isn’t subjected to scientific testing, and isn’t backed up by evidence?
I can appreciate the fact that Richardson wants to help differentiate himself from the top-tier candidates, all of whom emphasize their own universal healthcare plans.
But this really isn’t the way to do it.
Well said.
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Doctors are the most expensive link? Your average dentist now makes more than your average general practitioner (in many cases, a lot more). Why? Because the insurance companies have been cutting the pay of physicians for quite some time, and dentists are enjoying treating whoever they feel like with no government mandates.
And while it might cost less to have someone else provide care in place of a physician initially, just wait until they screw up. Doctors go through years upon years of rigorous training for a reason.
As for alternative medicine and herbals, I have no qualms with them as long as there is some science behind them. More often than not, there isn't. Yet people still buy up echinacea, still take silymarin, still chow down on ginko. In no way, shape, or form would I be in favor of using tax dollars for that garbage. Don't regulate them, but don't fund them, either.
"Don't ever be afraid to see what you see." ~Ronald Reagan
And if they feel they aren't getting paid enough by insurance companies, they might want to try getting away from insurance and offering a discount to walk ins that pay on the spot.
If you are going to rape people without insurance, don't go crying when it comes back to bite you which in case you haven't noticed it is.
As to the training, Sorry but every check up doesn't need Asclepius. What we have is the result of an excessively powerful union at work. Which over time will hit the same forces that have been destroying other unions.
Just hope you timed things right for yourself.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
Holistic medicine is not what New Mexico needs. It may be harmless when it's fleecing a willing baby boomer out of their disposable income (i.e your average Santa Fe blue state transplant). It's just dangerous to promote it as a front line health adjunct in a state not exactly swimming in health care services.
If Richardson were serious (and not just peddling some irritating tripe about alternative medicine) the State of New Mexico would embrace the certified physician's assistant model (PA-C). Expand the number of health care providers while ensuring a collaborative relationship with physicians.
The military makes good use of their PA's for triage, sick call (runny noses etc.)and many other diagnostic and treatment processes.
you don't want to be under TRICARE. Honestly, it's better to just pay for tratment somewhere else. It takes so long to get an appointment, and it's in general just terrible service.
TRICARE has been one of the few government run programs I've been involved with that actually functions at a fairly efficient level.
It has covered myself and my family for a gamut of routine and emergency health issues without a hitch.
TRICARE works and works well.
if only lefties rely on phony medical care, time and mortality will be relentless.
Republicans should continue to use doctors as much as possible and to encourage our lefty friends to enjoy their alternative health care.
We already fund chiropractors and acupuncturists adding to the already immense burden on the taxpayers. Let everyone consult whomever they wish and take whatever herbs and spices they like, but don't ask me to pay for it. It's bad enough we have to pay for the damage they do. Ask any orthopedist and you'll find a go deal of their business is undoing what chiropractors have done.
We also pay for other unwise decisions like taking dangerous drugs, drinking, over-eating, vegging out ...
Enough. You want to abuse your body, go right ahead, but be prepared to pay for the consequences yourself.
That's BS. Ask any orthopedist and if they're honest, they'll tell you that they are being put out of business because their patients are being helped without drugs or surgery by going to a chiropractor. The best thing for healthcare would be for everyone to pay for it themselves with a high deductible insurance to cover very expensive conditions. Let the consumers choose the more cost-effective way. I did that and by choosing my chiro I saved my insurance company $50k and am quite happy with the results.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
My guess is Richardson looked at Hillary Clinton, responsible for HillaryCare
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"Hobbes, what do you think happens when we die?" "I believe we play saxophone in an all-girls cabaret in New Orleans." "So you believe in heaven?" "Call it what you like."
Quite a laugh-fest, this one is. I doubt anyone in the crowd could keep a straight face...I know I wouldn't be able, hahaha.
Why is it that I doubt Richardson's "holistic and spiritual medicine" would include Christian counseling? Never mind; I think I know the answer to that one.
Merry Christmas to all.
Jeremiah 17:9.
As someone who runs a healthcare system I can tell you that if you think the medical treatment you receive in a hospital is "evidence based" you are wrong. I think most people would be shocked if they knew of the variability that exists between doctors for the same symptoms, surgery, treatment, etc.
We are slowly moving towards more evidence based system and in some cases payment can be denied by government payors if evidence based healthcare isn't followed.
Alternative and complimentary medicine is not for me but it should not be completely shunned. People want more time with their docs and if they see a holistic provider they will get as much face time as they'd like. A regular doc is often scheduling 15 minute appointments and much of basic family practice is shifting to PA's and Nurse Practitioners.
What do we need - better regulation of complimentary and alternative medicine, particularly diet supplements, herbal remedies, etc.
- Improved electronic communication. Promotion of EMR's.
- Standardized electronic language (portable records)
- Better data
- Further saturation of proven clinical pathways
- Less regulation. Hospitals and drs are so regulated that regualations and rules are more of a game, than something that truly works to protect patients
- More focus on preventative medicine.
- More investment in pharmaceutical and biomedical development
There is so much more. Our healthcare system is amazing and should be applauded but it is almost equally scary and deficient and far short of what it could be.
* PRIESTCRAFT is thus defined: “The stratagem and frauds of priests; fraud or imposition in religious concerns. Management of selfish and ambitious priests to gain wealth and power, or to impose upon the credulity of others.”
Its hard enough to get people up to speed on a practice management system.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777
You sound like my orthopedist, who was so upset that I went to a chiropractor to fix my back problems rather than relying on his surgical skills. What I learned is that my chiropractor went to school for 8 years and took virtually the same classes as my MD, with the exception of pharmaceutical classes. The chiropractor ended up saving my insurance company about $50,000 in expenses that would have been paid for if I had opted to have the surgery. If someone can be helped by a CAM provider, it will likely cost the insurance company much less than traditional medical care. So if the dems want to have government health care, they sure as hell better include things like chiropractic. What you are suggesting is that the government get so involved that they should tell me exactly what kind of care I need. This is exactly why we don't need government taking control of healthcare because many in government will be like you and want to tell me I have to have a $50k surgery because the AMA lobbies them and tells them they shouldn't like any provider that doesn't perform expensive surgery or sell me drugs.
Then destroy a perfectly good message with lunacy.
We do rely too much on doctors, far too much. They are the most expensive, by far portion of the healthcare chain. The question isn't how to replace them with quackery but how to supplement them with less expensive labor.
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"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777