Replies

    • OK, then it was a socialist effort. I didn't know there was this much socialism in the US in the 50s.

    • State, County, and City Hospitals of the '50s were chartered non-profit hospitals... much like Base Ball, the Boy Scouts or Banks... they operated under State Charters with some funding... mainly initial operating costs ...buildings, equipment, etc. funded thru government back bonds ... issued and guaranteed by local and state governments.  The daily operating expenses and start-up monies being financed by the state.  The hospitals and clinics were run by professionals and Hospital Boards whose seats were filled with qualified local businessmen.

      The Hospitals and Clinics were not government-owned... they were underwritten and chartered by the State and financed with special government bonds for the building, initial operating, and equipment cost.  The Board for each facility and Hospital administration was comprised of private citizens, along with the medical care staff... they were not government employees.  Fees for services were expected to cover daily operating costs,  repayment of the Bonds, and salaries of the medical staff.  Boards were unelected non-paid volunteers These institutions were classified as non-profit private corporations.

    • I think I can read especially if I spell things out. You want private health care facilities that the government does not allowed to make money. Got it. Private investors will jump all over that business opportunity ;-) 

      I think I read it correctly that you lament the times when we had "State, County, City or charitable Christian Hospitals and clinics." I'm not sure but I think 3 of the 4 are public. I think I misread that since you want private only, nothing public. 

    • Can you read... I stated we need PRIVATE not for profit medical care... medical care for profit is medical care by ACCOUNTANT not by Physician. I did not state we need a government medical care model. The primary motive for medical care must be effective and efficient medical outcomes... not more profit each quarter and huge dividends paid to the owners of the system. 

      There is an intrinsic clash between motives in private non-profit care and for-profit care.  The former focuses on patient wellness and the latter on profits over care..That is why our medical care was once the envy of the world... in the '50s and '60s there were very few for-profit medical providers... they were either State, County, City or charitable Christian Hospitals and clinics. 

      Today, the for-profit model for care has resulted in our populations suffering from the most expensive and least effective medical model in the modern world.  We are at 47th in medical outcomes and the most expensive by nearly double the nearest nation's costs per capita for our medical care...The  For-profit model is not working in America it is driving up costs and lowering the quality of care... it is medical care by accountant not physician.

    •  You stated, "We do NOT want government involvement in business."  To late, the government is directly involved with all forms of business...  everything from taxes to licensing, too regulatory inspections, and more. Where have you been?

    • When America's low-cost not for profit private system converted to a FOR-PROFIT system, medical care suffered and our system became the world's most expensive and least effective among modern nations.  A testament to greed and avarice... a testament to medical care by ACCOUNTANT instead of by Physician.

      Medical care is not subject to the normal free-market economic model...  the consumer and provider are not on equal footing when it comes to providing medical care in an emergency or elective market... Consumers of medical care are at the mercy of the provider as they are not normally able to walk out of a critical care situation or even a normal office visit... as many consumers of medical care have insurance mandates on where and who administers their care... THEY ARE A CAPTIVE MARKET and hence have no valid free-market choice.

      Hence in steps the government to provide basic pricing guidelines and cost controls... as a check and balance on the providers of medical care... in an attempt to restrain the profit motive of the more greedy providers.  In a not for profit model the provider is not owned by the government... however, the government monitors their fees and services to keep them from abusing the consumers with excessive fees for services... making sure that they are only charging what is necessary to recover their expenses and a little reserve for unexpect costs... say 3% over actual costs.  The savings from keeping charges to no more than 3% over costs would meet the providers income requirement to remain open and keep costs under control.

    • That's right. The healthcare mess really doesn't matter when the fear of terrorists and American commies sit in your bones, and you end up doing the right thing by voting Trump & Republicans no matter what. We are all in that same boat. Trump 2020!!!

    • Ah ok. Now I get it. I wonder why these institutions haven't set up hospitals and clinics when they have such a competitive advantage over money hungry for-profit facilities, since they don't need to factor in any profits. Do you know why? 

    • From what I read, the churches pocketed $3,000 per Syran "refugee."

    • When I say not for profit medical care... I am not saying NO PROFIT ... I am saying profit no longer is the motive. 

      Owners of medical facilities need to be philanthropic institutions, Christian charity, or fraternal organizations like the Shriners, Baptist Hospitals, St. Judes, etc. Non Profit and private medical care is focused on providing quality care at the lowest net cost.  Insurance Companies, holding corporations, investment corporations, or those institutions whose primary motive is profit, not patients, should not operate medical care facilities.

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