Actually, a lot of the AHCA is directed at cutting the costs of health care. One of the biggest provisions that has already gone into effect is the one that holds health care insurance companies' profits and administrative costs to 20%. Believe me, they have thrown a shitload of money at fighting this plan -- and that's why. If you follow the money, you'll understand why the costs of health care have risen so precipitously. It's actually for very few reasons, and the AHCA addresses them all. Not as well as if a public option had been included, but it's a damn good start.
1. Health care industry profits were in excess of 40% at the time the AHCA went into effect. So instantly, those profits were cut in half. And they're not done. The law imposes more restrictions every year. Is it any wonder these corporations hate Obamacare so much?
2. Duplication of effort/records was another huge cost factor. This is why automation requirements are part of the AHCA. You'll hear a lot of small providers bitching and complaining about having to purchase and implement new records-keeping software to comply. I understand their pain, but the idea behind it is to eliminate duplication of procedures and create availability of records to all physicians at all times. So now, if your primary care physician sends you for an MRI and then refers you to a specialist, the specialist doesn't refer you for a second MRI -- he has access to the information gleaned from the first one.
3. The amount of money spent for end-of-life care is hugely disproportionate to the funds spent throughout a lifetime for regular prudent care. Here's where the discussion of "death panels" comes in. SOMEONE has to be responsible for determining what is reasonable and prudent care as opposed to extraordinary care to extend someone's life as they approach a natural death. Right now, it's insurance companies -- with a profit motive. This duty is now shifted to the government, which has no profit motive. No different than standards that have been established for many years in European countries and others. And nothing precludes someone from expending their own private means to whatever extent they wish to keep on keepin' on.
4. Remember that old saw, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? The AHCA addresses that, too. That's why all preventive treatments are now to be made available at virtually no cost to the patient. It's much less costly to remove a bad little mole than to treat melanoma for a few years.
If people actually understood all the good things the AHCA does for them, they'd be thrilled about it. But change is hard and scary, so... here we are.
1. Health care industry profits were in excess of 40% at the time the AHCA went into effect. So instantly, those profits were cut in half. And they're not done. The law imposes more restrictions every year. Is it any wonder these corporations hate Obamacare so much?
2. Duplication of effort/records was another huge cost factor. This is why automation requirements are part of the AHCA. You'll hear a lot of small providers bitching and complaining about having to purchase and implement new records-keeping software to comply. I understand their pain, but the idea behind it is to eliminate duplication of procedures and create availability of records to all physicians at all times. So now, if your primary care physician sends you for an MRI and then refers you to a specialist, the specialist doesn't refer you for a second MRI -- he has access to the information gleaned from the first one.
3. The amount of money spent for end-of-life care is hugely disproportionate to the funds spent throughout a lifetime for regular prudent care. Here's where the discussion of "death panels" comes in. SOMEONE has to be responsible for determining what is reasonable and prudent care as opposed to extraordinary care to extend someone's life as they approach a natural death. Right now, it's insurance companies -- with a profit motive. This duty is now shifted to the government, which has no profit motive. No different than standards that have been established for many years in European countries and others. And nothing precludes someone from expending their own private means to whatever extent they wish to keep on keepin' on.
4. Remember that old saw, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? The AHCA addresses that, too. That's why all preventive treatments are now to be made available at virtually no cost to the patient. It's much less costly to remove a bad little mole than to treat melanoma for a few years.
If people actually understood all the good things the AHCA does for them, they'd be thrilled about it. But change is hard and scary, so... here we are.
