jusdeadphunky
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 Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:11 pm Post subject: health care costs to double in 10 years |
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Yahoo! News
Health care spending seen doubling in 10 years
By Susan Heavey1 hour, 44 minutes ago
U.S. spending on prescription drugs, hospital care and other health services is expected to double to $4.1 trillion over the next decade, up from $2.1 trillion in 2006, a government report released on Wednesday found.
Despite relative stability in recent years, nearly 20 cents of every dollar spent in 10 years will go toward health care, National Health Statistics Group economists said in their projections looking at 2006 to 2016.
Last year's health spending should make up about 16 cents for every dollar spent, they wrote in the journal Health Affairs.
Lead author John Poisal told reporters a major factor was an aging population as the "leading edge of the baby boom generation becomes eligible for Medicare," the nation's insurance program for those age 65 and older.
Greater spending for prescription medications is expected to fuel much of the increase, Poisal and his team said, especially amid more aggressive treatment of diabetes, heart issues and conditions affecting the central nervous system.
Use of cheaper generic alternatives is also seen leveling off, the group found. Some drugs will be introduced in pill and other forms more easily available at pharmacies rather than injectable versions used only at doctor offices.
New therapies to treat cancer and other diseases could also increase prescription drug use, they added.
Those paying for prescription drugs is also shifting, according to the report, which also looks at the potential 2006 impact of a new prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries, who also include the disabled.
The program, known as Part D, will absorb a greater share of prescription drug costs from private health insurers, consumers and Medicaid, the federal-state insurance plan for the poor, they wrote.
"In general, Part D is doing what it's supposed to," said Poisal, the National Health Statistics Group's deputy director.
The group is part of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which runs both insurance programs and is the largest payer of U.S. health care.
At the same time, the report found the cost of drugs, devices and services such as doctors visits are expected to continue the rise, increasing out-of-pocket costs for those with private insurance.
While growth in spending on hospital and doctor care is seen slowing in 2006, the researchers expect that to change this year and continue to increase.
"Despite rising costs, consumers continue to purchase costly existing and new health care technologies," they wrote.
Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
Copyright © 2007 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
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jusdeadphunky
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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| isn't it about time we tell our representatives that we have had enough of being raped by the pharmaceutical and insurance companies? |
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cornopean
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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| jusdeadphunky wrote: | | isn't it about time we tell our representatives that we have had enough of being raped by the pharmaceutical and insurance companies? |
Think like an economist here. when prices go up, it is a sign that something is going wrong. why doesn't Macdonald's triple its prices? because of competition. so if there is a rise in prices, we need to ask ourselves......why is it that these companies can raise prices so high without any consequences? I suspect the answer is a lack of competition.
it makes no sense to blame the companies. they are only doing what you and I would do if we were in their shoes. we need to ask ourselves why there is such a lack of competition in the arena of health care that our prices are going so high.
the best health care reform we could embrace would be to first deny that health care is a right.
and if you insist that health care is a "right" to which people are entitled then why not food? haircuts? gasoline? etc? |
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cornopean
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| jusdeadphunky wrote: | | isn't it about time we tell our representatives that we have had enough of being raped by the pharmaceutical and insurance companies? |
I wonder if the cancer patient who has been healed by a new cancer drug feels like he was "raped" by this drug company. ? or the AIDS patient whose life is extended b/c some drug company spends millions on research and development to try and find new drugs and procedures. |
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jusdeadphunky
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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| cornopean wrote: | | jusdeadphunky wrote: | | isn't it about time we tell our representatives that we have had enough of being raped by the pharmaceutical and insurance companies? |
I wonder if the cancer patient who has been healed by a new cancer drug feels like he was "raped" by this drug company. ? or the AIDS patient whose life is extended b/c some drug company spends millions on research and development to try and find new drugs and procedures. |
what about the cancer and AIDS patients that can not afford to purchase these drugs and have to sit back and have their health deteriorate knowing that something can be done but they do not have the money to do it. this is what i am talking about. |
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Anym
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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Actually it's probably not the lack of competition,(have you seen all different the commercials for the different erectile disfunction/cold medicine/allergie pills)
More than likely it's the fact that some prick ceo or board member needs a new mansion built somewhere. |
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exton
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:35 am Post subject: |
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| cornopean wrote: | | jusdeadphunky wrote: | | isn't it about time we tell our representatives that we have had enough of being raped by the pharmaceutical and insurance companies? |
I wonder if the cancer patient who has been healed by a new cancer drug feels like he was "raped" by this drug company. ? or the AIDS patient whose life is extended b/c some drug company spends millions on research and development to try and find new drugs and procedures. |
Phunky's rhetoric is extreme, but he's not entirely incorrect.
The drug companies charge too much for medicine. I mean, they certainly charge where supply meets demand, but that's irrelevent - they're not charging such that the people who need the drugs can get them. |
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Lester
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:53 am Post subject: |
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| Anym wrote: | Actually it's probably not the lack of competition,(have you seen all different the commercials for the different erectile disfunction/cold medicine/allergie pills)
More than likely it's the fact that some prick ceo or board member needs a new mansion built somewhere. |
It's me, I need a mansion...
Universal healthcare would be nice. |
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jusdeadphunky
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:06 am Post subject: |
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| exton wrote: | | cornopean wrote: | | jusdeadphunky wrote: | | isn't it about time we tell our representatives that we have had enough of being raped by the pharmaceutical and insurance companies? |
I wonder if the cancer patient who has been healed by a new cancer drug feels like he was "raped" by this drug company. ? or the AIDS patient whose life is extended b/c some drug company spends millions on research and development to try and find new drugs and procedures. |
Phunky's rhetoric is extreme, but he's not entirely incorrect.
The drug companies charge too much for medicine. I mean, they certainly charge where supply meets demand, but that's irrelevent - they're not charging such that the people who need the drugs can get them. |
the drug companies fuck countries that do not have a national health care plan. they make so much money off of americans because our government lets them. they also take advantage of poor countries and deliberately let hundreds of thousands of people die because they hold exclusive rights on the pattens which makes generic versions illegal and they refuse to offer the drugs at a discount. not to mention that the pharmaceutical companies spend the most out of any industry on advertising and they have repeatedly pushed drugs,(especially through doctors receiving commissions), that they knew were proven to be dangerous in clinical trials. think about that...every time there is a major drug recall followed by lawsuits the pharmaceutical company had some sort of a concealed internal study that showed they had advance knowledge of the dangers of the drug. |
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cornopean
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| Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:39 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | what about the cancer and AIDS patients that can not afford to purchase these drugs and have to sit back and have their health deteriorate knowing that something can be done but they do not have the money to do it. this is what i am talking about. |
I too think of this situation. but I am certain that it is not the drug company's responsibility to make sure that everyone has access to their drugs. they design them and sell them.......but they are no more responsible for making sure everyone has them then GM is responsible for making sure that everyone has a good-running car. |
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cornopean
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| Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:44 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | The drug companies charge too much for medicine. I mean, they certainly charge where supply meets demand, but that's irrelevent - they're not charging such that the people who need the drugs can get them. |
I agree and I would add that many doctors charge too much for their services. but why are they able to do this? what in economic terms is making this possible where it is not possible in the fast food industry and computer industry? etc. etc. I think the answer is that most health care is purchased via employee provided health plans which means that the majority of health care consumers are third party payers. they aren't spending their own money so they dont care how efficiently it is spent.
Milton Friedman makes this point here.
http://www.hoover.org/publicat.....59466.html
hence, doctors and drug companies can charge higher prices than they would normally get away with if people were paying with their own money. |
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cornopean
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| Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:47 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | the drug companies fuck countries that do not have a national health care plan. they make so much money off of americans because our government lets them. they also take advantage of poor countries... |
this article shows that nearly all innovations in health care are coming from the US.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10.....mp;ei=5070
why? b/c drug companies and docs are allowed to make a profit here. if you can't make a profit, then you won't work hard to innovate. |
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jusdeadphunky
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| Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:27 am Post subject: |
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| cornopean wrote: | | Quote: | | what about the cancer and AIDS patients that can not afford to purchase these drugs and have to sit back and have their health deteriorate knowing that something can be done but they do not have the money to do it. this is what i am talking about. |
I too think of this situation. but I am certain that it is not the drug company's responsibility to make sure that everyone has access to their drugs. they design them and sell them.......but they are no more responsible for making sure everyone has them then GM is responsible for making sure that everyone has a good-running car. |
a good running car is not a basic human right (or necessity). i try to live my life doing what is right and being humble and not taking things into the point of excess. no it is not the responsibility of the pharma company, but when will the line be drawn? we all know what the right thing to do would be. when is enough enough? how much fucking money do you need to make especially when it is at the expense of human life? |
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Lester
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| Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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| cornopean wrote: | | Quote: | | the drug companies fuck countries that do not have a national health care plan. they make so much money off of americans because our government lets them. they also take advantage of poor countries... |
this article shows that nearly all innovations in health care are coming from the US.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10.....mp;ei=5070
why? b/c drug companies and docs are allowed to make a profit here. if you can't make a profit, then you won't work hard to innovate. |
Prestige is another reason why researchers are innovative, money is a lot, but it sure ain't everything. |
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cornopean
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| Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 11:31 pm Post subject: |
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| jusdeadphunky wrote: | | cornopean wrote: | | Quote: | | what about the cancer and AIDS patients that can not afford to purchase these drugs and have to sit back and have their health deteriorate knowing that something can be done but they do not have the money to do it. this is what i am talking about. |
I too think of this situation. but I am certain that it is not the drug company's responsibility to make sure that everyone has access to their drugs. they design them and sell them.......but they are no more responsible for making sure everyone has them then GM is responsible for making sure that everyone has a good-running car. |
a good running car is not a basic human right (or necessity). i try to live my life doing what is right and being humble and not taking things into the point of excess. no it is not the responsibility of the pharma company, but when will the line be drawn? we all know what the right thing to do would be. when is enough enough? how much money do you need to make especially when it is at the expense of human life? |
but drug companies aren't taking people's lives. they are saving them. and doing a better job at it then in any other period of human history. |
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