Harper concerned over Alta. health care reforms

[BitWhys]

yes, I'll admit I'm pleasantly surprised.

By JIM MACDONALD

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is raising grave concerns about a key aspects of Alberta's Third Way health-care reforms.

In a letter to Premier Ralph Klein, Harper hints that allowing doctors to practise in both the public and private health-care systems at the same time may violate the Canada Health Act. "Dual practice creates conflict of interest for physicians as there would be financial incentive for them to stream patients into the private portion of their practice," Harper said in the letter sent last Friday.

"Furthermore, dual practice legitimizes queue-jumping as it provides an approved mechanism for patients to pay to seek treatment at the front of the line."

"Moreover, such dual practice may be a magnet for rural physicians to migrate to urban centres."
...
"My concern is that limiting the breadth of publicly funded coverage may increase the scope for coverage by private health insurance, thus potentially limiting access to coverage for those who cannot afford it or are not eligible because of pre-existing health conditions."
...

not that it sheds any light on the practicality of the "Wait Times Guarantee", but to me good news nonetheless.

 

[Jay]

If the HCA is getting in the way it needs to scrapped. It's only a matter of time before we gain our freedom back.

 

[BitWhys]

"if the HCA is getting in the way"

good question.

I don't think so.

 

[Jay]

It's getting in my way.

 

[BitWhys]

and I've got a friend waiting for a triple bypass, but scrapping the HCA isn't going to make it rain surgeons.

 

[Jay]

That is really unfourtunate...how long has your friend had to wait?

 

[BitWhys]

We found out around a month ago. He's a tough nut so he's getting by and all but its easy to tell he can't stand pacing himself. When we started talking about the queue he took me by surprise by talking about how a guy at the club he knows is a doctor in the boonies and how the guy has to get out of town on the weekends to get some peace and quiet.

His ticker might be plugged up but he's got a heart of gold.

 

[Jay]

Well do wish you friend the best from us at CanCon.

I do however think the HCA act is getting in the way of some people's healthcare and I do think the cost of healthcare will rise under a private planning but that will retain doctors instead of us paying for 75% of their education and them leaving for the States.

My solution to the problem would be to privatize the entire thing and have the provincial governments subside personal insurance plans for people who require it. IMO.

 

[BitWhys]

If the standard neo-liberal/laissez-faire/free enterprise/anti-protectionist arguments are respected, subsidizing the bottom end introduces inefficiencies that cannot be avoided in the implementation. Besides that the eventual establishment of an oligarchy in the provision of that service is almost unavoidable.

how would privatization solve the doctor retention problem?

 

[Jay]

But we wouldn't be subsidizing lower end would we? It would be the same system for everyone, the only differences would be who picks up your personal health care tab.....the hospitals and doctors wouldn't be privy to that information.

The retention problem would be solved through competitive wages.

 

[BitWhys]

...and have the provincial governments subside personal insurance plans for people who require it.

that's a subsidy.

so why not just give the doctors a raise and leave the middle men out?

 

[Jay]

Because we need to change the system to bring better management into it, allow people freedom and remove the feds from the entire thing.

Paul Martin has no business campaigning on healthcare in a federal election....these are provincial issues.

Teachers and GM workers demanding their health care for free is sickening and greedy....the idea is to help the poor.

 

[BitWhys]

what's the cost of administration got to do with doctor's salaries?

the feds NEED to have a postition on health care since they handle the transfers.

I have no clue what you're talking about with the teachers and GM workers.

 

[Jay]

If it isn't administrated properly that could have an effect on every health care persons wages.

Oh ya I forgot to mention the transfers are going too....

Socialists making 75k a year have no business demanding their healthcare for free. It just shows the true nature of socialists.

 

[tracy]

Money isn't the end all and be all of why health care workers leave, trust me. I took a pay cut to leave BC.

I fear privatization of health care. I see it here, and while I really like the US and living here, it isn't fun to get sick in. I am a young, pretty healthy, fairly well off, employed person and I had to wait a few months for my surgery because I needed to save up the money first (getting it done this Wednesday finally). It's a waitlist, just a different kind. I also see the profit motive costing a lot of money to the health care system. I don't see more efficiency in a lot of areas. I do see some great things with the use of personell though that I think we could learn from.

 

[tracy]

Re: RE: Harper concerned over Alta. health care reforms

Socialists making 75k a year have no business demanding their healthcare for free. It just shows the true nature of socialists.

That healthcare isn't free at all, it comes from the large amount of taxes that person will pay each year. I don't see what's wrong with demanding that our tax dollars are well managed and used to pay for important things like health care and education rather than bs programs in Quebec for instance.

 

[Jay]

Food is important...so is housing. I need a car too and my dog has a vet appointment.

 

[BitWhys]

Re: RE: Harper concerned over Alta. health care reforms

If it isn't administrated properly that could have an effect on every health care persons wages.

Oh ya I forgot to mention the transfers are going too....

Socialists making 75k a year have no business demanding their healthcare for free. It just shows the true nature of socialists.

pound for pound Canada's administration is 4 times more efficient than the private sector to the south. there's always efficiencies to be found but I'm not going to support a plank that's nothing more than an empty promise to squeeze blood from a stone.

 

[Jay]

Just on the freedom of choice alone the health care system should be scrapped. Making it illegal to pay for your own basic healthcare is illegal and a fundamental right is being squished.

It isn't a federal responsibility.

Waiting times are a problem.

23 years of under funded emergency rooms in Toronto.

It is a tool to buy votes...etc etc.

Even my own Doctor says Canada can't hold a candle to American health care delivery.

 

[BitWhys]

If its about choice then why stop there?

let's auction off the military.