The health care we receive here in the U.S. is bar none, among the best in the world. So why do we insist on calling this recent government attempt at takeover of our health care system a “Health Care Reform”. In fact what is reform? Well, most dictionary definitions are as follows: “To change to a better state, form, etc.; to improve by alteration, substitution, abolition, etc.”
Health care here in the United States, as we just stated, is without question among the best in the world, and this is easily identifiable simply be examining how many people from countries where there is government controlled health care, flee to the United States to receive better, more comprehensive. and more expeditious health care or treatments than they otherwise have access to in their home countries. These include Canada and European countries, where socialized medicine is the norm.
So, while the talk may be about health care reform, we submit that what the debate should be about is health care cost reform. Additionally, to insinuate that insurance companies are solely at fault for the rising health care costs is just absurd. Insurance is expensive because health care costs have spiraled out of control. Insurance companies make the payments, and in many cases they get the discounts, because of their pooled purchasing power.
Consequently, if we are to focus our discussions on healthcare costs, where the discussion should rightfully be focused, then we should fully examine and realize why the costs are constantly increasing, and doing so at a pace that exceeds inflation or income growth.
One major reason for these ever increasing healthcare costs is the ridiculous prices doctors must pay for their required malpractice insurance. Many want to blame the insurance companies for the high prices. However, before we persist in this line of thinking, we would do well to consider the law, and the frequency with which doctors are sued in court with nonsensical and or frivolous lawsuits. Most importantly, with these frivilous lawsuits comes a high price tag for their defense.
Defense costs for lawsuits are borne by the insurance companies providing medical malpractice insurance. Many people are believers in the need for legal or tort reform, so too does the author of this article believe in this need. Many people truly believe this tort reform would significantly reduce medical malpractice insurance costs, as well as overall medical costs.
Let us open up legal action against any lawyer who brings to bare a frivolous lawsuit and then let us see the real and legitimate claims which are made in courts, while frivilous suits and claims are opem to counter claims and counter suits. Were this the case, then the number of cases would likely drop significantly and the cost of malpractice insurance would likely plummet, as would health care costs, were these frivilous suits reduced.
For a minute, let us take a look at but one example of how this comes into play. Not long ago a man had an accident. While reaching down to remove a stick from near his lawn mower he lost two finger to the blade. He received many (nearly 30) calls from legal professionals urging him to sue the doctors for the loss of his fingers. The silly thing is, the doctors and hospital did their best to save his fingers from his own stupidity. Yet even after re-attachment they were unable to help or to save the fingers. Still, even if the case is completely frivolous, legal professionals were urging him to sue the doctors and hospital for not saving his fingers. It was absolutely crazy, I know, the man was my father in law.