Info on the Healthcare plans of the two parties

Some excellent articles. Some information on the plans of the two party's to attempt a fix on the ailing healthcare system in america today. (rw)

The San Francisco ChronicleOctober 11-15, 2004
IN CRITICAL CONDITION: HEALTH CARE IN AMERICA

"Why health care costs are rising fast. Plus the Bush and Kerry health care plans."
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/10/11/MNGII96CVP1.DTL

sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/10/11/MNGII96D031.DTL

"Retirees hit hard as health benefits are lost."
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/10/12/BUGMN979TS1.DTL

How Canada provides health care for all.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/10/15/BUG7T8E81H63.DTL


From Don Mcanne @ Quote of the Day a listserve for those interested in this Topic
http://two.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/quote-of-the-day

I found these points and reference articles:(rw)

"Point:There are major fundamental flaws in our health care system that cannot possibly be corrected by addressing each as an isolated problem. Comprehensive reform will be possible only by forming our own, universal, monopsonistic purchasing system, a single payer system.Explanation:Flaws include such factors as an irrational overpricing of certain services and products (e.g., pharmaceuticals), the excessive and expensive administrative burden placed on health care providers, the failure to provide greater incentives for a higher quality, lower cost primary care infrastructure, and the wasteful and detrimental excesses of high tech care in a system characterized by regional and selective excess capacities.The last point is not receiving enough attention but is extremely important. It is timely now because Health Affairs has released a series of twenty articles on the topic. They can be downloaded for free, but only until October 21! After that time you will need to be a subscriber or will have to purchase each individual article to access them on the Internet.
The Health Affairs articles are listed under "7 October 2004" at:

http://content.healthaffairs.org/webexclusives/index.dtl?year=2004

We cannot possibly control costs and improve quality unless we harness the power of monopsonistic purchasing. And that just happens to have the added advantage of ensuring affordable, comprehensive coverage for everyone."
DM@QOTD