thunder wrote:
On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:33:35 -0700, jps wrote:


These are bandaids for a seriously broken system. Tort reform could
help the situation but it's going to require it's own process.

Tort reform is a red herring. There are enough states that have passed
tort reform to get a good idea whether it will work or not. Medical
malpractice costs are too small a percentage, roughly 1-1 1/2%, to affect
health care costs dramatically. There have also been many studies that
note the tort reform savings do not "trickle down" to the consumer.


The for-profit health insurance companies fear a public option because
it would show them up for the rip-off artists they are, and it would
force them to behave more reasonably with their customers. As it is now,
there is no meaningful oversight of health insurers, nor any real
competition. And they don't want any. Their model does not work for
working Americans.