I think it's pretty clear that one of the best ways to reduce our cost of medical care is to help the "free market" system work more efficiently. To do that, we need to open up pricing for health care and services, as well as provide consumers with the capability of evaluating alternative providers and medications.
30 years ago, it was impossible for a patient to be able to find out costs for services or prescriptions. We didn't have access to the information, nor did we have the pricing. Now, with the internet, and powerful search systems, it is possible for us to find out the details about our ailment, determine the best treatment, search for the best price on a pharmaceutical. In some cases, we may need a blood or urine test or some other type of laboratory evaluation. We may need an x-ray, CAT scan, or MRI also. Why do we always have to go to a doctor BEFORE we can get those tests? It's simple, we need a gateway to keep us from spending unnecessarily on those services. Why can't we set up our pricing scheme so that patients could do those things in advance of seeing the doctor -- but at their own risk or expense?
Also we need better on-line comparisons of drug prices. It's clear that patients can do this in other countries, but within the US, there are apparently restrictions on price comparison of prescription drugs. Most likely this is because of pressure from big pharma..We can easily compare prices of drugs in other countries using the internet. However within the US it is very difficult. Obviously no pharmaceutical company wants to be the first or only company to do this. However if legislation were passed requiring everyone to post their prices, everyone will be playing by the same rules -- totally fair! It would also facilitate competition, which the companies don't want, because it would likely reduce the overall revenue received for drugs.
30 years ago, it was impossible for a patient to be able to find out costs for services or prescriptions. We didn't have access to the information, nor did we have the pricing. Now, with the internet, and powerful search systems, it is possible for us to find out the details about our ailment, determine the best treatment, search for the best price on a pharmaceutical. In some cases, we may need a blood or urine test or some other type of laboratory evaluation. We may need an x-ray, CAT scan, or MRI also. Why do we always have to go to a doctor BEFORE we can get those tests? It's simple, we need a gateway to keep us from spending unnecessarily on those services. Why can't we set up our pricing scheme so that patients could do those things in advance of seeing the doctor -- but at their own risk or expense?
Also we need better on-line comparisons of drug prices. It's clear that patients can do this in other countries, but within the US, there are apparently restrictions on price comparison of prescription drugs. Most likely this is because of pressure from big pharma..We can easily compare prices of drugs in other countries using the internet. However within the US it is very difficult. Obviously no pharmaceutical company wants to be the first or only company to do this. However if legislation were passed requiring everyone to post their prices, everyone will be playing by the same rules -- totally fair! It would also facilitate competition, which the companies don't want, because it would likely reduce the overall revenue received for drugs.
No comments:
Post a Comment