Jack, let me throw a few random thoughts and facts your way.
Physicians are the only business people I know of who are not allowed to set their own rates for services rendered. Medicare sets rates each year and insurance companies negotiate reimbursements to doctors based on those rates. Here we find two problems along with two solutions. Government is interfering with the free market and insurers are taking up to 25% of health care costs in administation and profit. Eliminate both and reduce cost.
The cost of meeting federal requirements and malpractice raise the cost of care. Reduce or eliminate both. As an example/ I have a friend here in town who is a neurosurgeon. He has three partners and two PA's. The six of them who are billable have to support an unbillable office staff of 26 to 28 people. Much of this is cost of compliance.
We also currently have a rationed form of universal health care in place. If an individual meets criteria ranging from income level to unmarried and pregnant to length of disability etc. their health care is provided free.
As one last note, emergency rooms across the country average collecting slightly less than 40% of what they bill. Doesn't that tell you that people are being treated regardless of ability to pay? It is actually illegal for a doctor to ask about ability to pay in this country, at lest in an emergency situation and they can be sued and sanctioned for doing so.
Once again I will say that changes made but our approach is different. I do not want a government that takes care of me, I want a government that allows me my right to take care of myself. Send me an e mail at pburke106@aol.com. I am coming through Minneapolis in June on my way to fish in Ontario.