Would this Fix Healthcare?
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 9:41 pmFirst off, let me say this is just a crude idea. I have been thinking about it for some time, but never talked about it publicly. Before the usual a-holes come in here and start calling me dumb and insensitive, let me just say I am asking for people to shoot holes through these ideas. In fact just forget you know anything about me for one second, and just listen to what I am saying and respect the spirit in which it is said. I know a lot of this is very radical, and there are questions about where the money is going to come from and many many other questions as well. I am asking for your help.
Okay, so here it goes. Overall, the general idea is a public healthcare system, totally free for anybody who needs it. Public hospitals and doctors offices which are run by students, trainees, interns, volunteers, as well as professionals who are more interested in helping than making money. Yes for this system you will have to wait a while, much like most of the other public systems around the world. But hey, it's free and it will solve the healthcare crisis!
First off, this system would be for people who do not have insurance, and would cost nothing out of pocket. Users can make contributions if they like, or they can serve in the community if they like. For funding the facilities would run on donations from the public, and the government would help by allowing taxpayers to choose to pay something on our tax forms. We could donate a sum of money, our entire refund, agree to pay a certain % extra in taxes for the year...etc. For the buildings we would have to start from scratch, but I am pretty certain the government can turn over some of their buildings or open up some places in foreclosure or take advantage of distressed properties. For transportation we would rely on what we have already. I know there will be some difficulties here because the facilities are not going everywhere we need them to be, but I suppose we will have to make arrangements for that one way or another. For equipment, hospitals can donate their old stuff as it becomes outdated, and similarly be incentivized to do so, as well as there might be potential for a new industry to be created for healthcare tools that are focused on low cost and basic duties.
Now, as for who is going to staff these facilities. Many of you know I am favor of closing ALL loopholes in the tax system as it exists today. However, the reality that this is highly unlikely to happen must take precedent and it's important to realize that we have to work with the tax system we have, not the tax system we want. The point about the loopholes is that doctors and nurses and specialists would be incentivized to volunteer by earning a write offs or credits or any number of different things that could be considered a benefit. Students would need serve a certain amount of time in an array of different ways as part of their graduation program. Trainee's and interns would serve time as well.
I know there is a lot of stuff that I have left out, but I am counting on the posse to point all that out and we will deal with it as it comes.
Okay, so here it goes. Overall, the general idea is a public healthcare system, totally free for anybody who needs it. Public hospitals and doctors offices which are run by students, trainees, interns, volunteers, as well as professionals who are more interested in helping than making money. Yes for this system you will have to wait a while, much like most of the other public systems around the world. But hey, it's free and it will solve the healthcare crisis!
First off, this system would be for people who do not have insurance, and would cost nothing out of pocket. Users can make contributions if they like, or they can serve in the community if they like. For funding the facilities would run on donations from the public, and the government would help by allowing taxpayers to choose to pay something on our tax forms. We could donate a sum of money, our entire refund, agree to pay a certain % extra in taxes for the year...etc. For the buildings we would have to start from scratch, but I am pretty certain the government can turn over some of their buildings or open up some places in foreclosure or take advantage of distressed properties. For transportation we would rely on what we have already. I know there will be some difficulties here because the facilities are not going everywhere we need them to be, but I suppose we will have to make arrangements for that one way or another. For equipment, hospitals can donate their old stuff as it becomes outdated, and similarly be incentivized to do so, as well as there might be potential for a new industry to be created for healthcare tools that are focused on low cost and basic duties.
Now, as for who is going to staff these facilities. Many of you know I am favor of closing ALL loopholes in the tax system as it exists today. However, the reality that this is highly unlikely to happen must take precedent and it's important to realize that we have to work with the tax system we have, not the tax system we want. The point about the loopholes is that doctors and nurses and specialists would be incentivized to volunteer by earning a write offs or credits or any number of different things that could be considered a benefit. Students would need serve a certain amount of time in an array of different ways as part of their graduation program. Trainee's and interns would serve time as well.
I know there is a lot of stuff that I have left out, but I am counting on the posse to point all that out and we will deal with it as it comes.
