| I have heard Rush Limbaugh's words in several | | | | Why not do something about the first reason |
| occasions and have gone over some of his | | | | above? Why are any actions against it being ruled |
| books, and my understanding of his recent | | | | out? More than $10 Billion per year spent in |
| comments is different than those of Chrissie | | | | litigation and compensations in malpractice suits |
| Long's. What I think he truly meant based not | | | | that over-inflate the costs of everything related |
| only on his comments, but also on his long and | | | | to healthcare? This would diminish the enormous |
| persistent opposition to President Obama's health | | | | cost of insurance for doctors, nurses, technicians |
| plan, is that he tries to convey that what the | | | | and hospitals nationwide, and could therefore also |
| American health system badly needs is not a lot | | | | reduce the very expensive and usual practice of |
| of additional regulation, and the takeover of the | | | | defensive medicine, that implies the use of |
| system by the usually inefficient and proven | | | | additional, excessive, and bothersome diagnostic |
| expensive government, but a good bit of fixing its | | | | exams requested to the patients that cost many |
| reality by setting limits to tort law in what is | | | | other billions, but are requested only mostly as |
| referred to malpractice in medicine, and bringing | | | | means of obtaining today, an allegeable defense in |
| up competition in the market as the natural | | | | a possible future malpractice trial. |
| regulator of prices. | | | | If this is not done, I believe that not much will be |
| In my opinion, Rush Limbaugh's comments intend | | | | achieved after years of debates in Washington, |
| to convey that the need to travel out of the U.S. | | | | and the millions of uninsured and under-insured |
| for medical care in the future will keep rising for | | | | citizens will still be there waiting for an answer. |
| Americans, as the effectiveness of a National | | | | Unfortunately for US healthcare providers, while |
| Health System -if approved- is very much in | | | | fortunately for patients, Medical Travel will always |
| doubt. That ineffectiveness in the National Health | | | | be an option. In her article, Chrissie Long wrote |
| Services is suffered by Canadians, the English, and | | | | about the big difference in price of private medical |
| Costa Ricans alike. They all admit it too, but they | | | | services provided in other countries comparing |
| all put up to the problems and inefficiencies of | | | | them with the cost of similar procedures in the |
| their systems in their own belief that theirs is the | | | | US. Let me assure you that it is true and |
| only way to have a General Health System. Why | | | | astounding. It is easy to find first rate hospitals all |
| does America have to push for more | | | | over Latin America with The Joint Commission's |
| government intervention and regulation to solve | | | | International Gold Seal of Approval, which shows |
| its problem instead of continuing to pursue its | | | | their quality to be at par with the top hospitals in |
| immensely successful free market ideals? Why | | | | the U.S. and prices are still 50%-75% lower than |
| not attack this problem by addressing one of the | | | | up north. Stories abound of patients that travel to |
| main drivers of high healthcare costs directly? | | | | get, for example a robotic surgery to remove |
| Let's remember the main reasons why healthcare | | | | prostate cancer and pay less than $25,000 |
| in the United States is significantly more | | | | instead of the $60,000 that it costs back home. |
| expensive than abroad | | | | Most importantly, it is important to point out that |
| -First, no other country has a legal system where | | | | these savings might be achieved without |
| lawsuits are so common and so drastic than the | | | | compromising quality. Even if a medical tourist is |
| U.S. This has led American healthcare practitioners | | | | looking for value, it can easily reach out for |
| and institutions to pay malpractice insurance | | | | doctors and institutions similar to America's best. |
| premiums which can easily exceed one hundred | | | | The best doctors in developing countries typically |
| thousand and much more dollars/year per Doctor, | | | | speak English, most have studied, received |
| Nurse, Technician, and many times that for | | | | training, or worked in the US or Europe, and some |
| Hospitals. Although foreign doctors and clinics have | | | | are even U.S. board certified. The best hospitals |
| medical malpractice insurance as well, their costs | | | | abroad have world top-class facilities, the latest |
| are a tiny fraction of that amount. | | | | technology and equipment, and even innovative |
| -Second, the cost of labor, construction, supplies, | | | | procedures that have made them earn local and |
| drugs, energy, taxes, and almost everything other | | | | international acclaims. |
| than high technology equipment which is | | | | American healthcare is indeed in need of a |
| permanently bought and paid for is generally | | | | change, but unless its problems are adequately |
| higher in the U.S. | | | | addressed and unearthed from their roots, |
| -Third, administrative aspects like paperwork, | | | | nothing positive will be achieved, and us in the |
| insurance collections, receivables, bad debt, and | | | | medical travel industry will continue to see |
| compliance are a larger cost burden for U.S. | | | | increasing numbers of Americans going abroad as |
| healthcare providers. | | | | an escape valve. |