I have thoughts about this both ways.......On one hand, I think market prices AND consumerism should drive the cost of a product........including DRUGS.....

On the other hand, when something is ALWAYS paid for by the gubment, and that drives the cost up, then maybe some cost controls are necessary. The funny thing though.......the very thing I DESPISE the the thing that causes the price to spiral out of control.

I really think that costs would be more realistic for most health care if there was not an assumption that every claim would be paid. While this may not be the case in the private sector insurance, most every medicare, medicaid, passport and government supported claim is paid......even those when someone gets services at an er versus a doc in a box.

I really wonder if market managed cost controls would work if folks were given a LIMIT for gubment health care......Example: you have X amount of coverage for preventative and maintenance type expenses........catastrophic is covered differently but if you choose to spend 800 bucks for a sniffle at the ER, and you BLOW all the money allocated due to foolishness, tough CRAP. Figure out how to pay for the next incident.

I don't know..........

Later,

Geo