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Lucille
01-11-2009, 05:54 PM
Strategies For the Battle Over Universal Healthcare (http://covertrationingblog.com/new-business-models-for-healthcare/strategies-for-the-battle-over-universal-healthcare)


Strategy A: Develop Medical Tourism

Here is an obvious and entirely legitimate choice for those who can afford it. In his consulting work, for instance, DrRich has encountered organizations such as ParkwayHealth Global, a concern that has established absolutely supurb state-of-the art medical institutions in Singapore, India, China and elsewhere in Asia, expressly for the purpose of attracting citizens of the world whose own healthcare systems cannot (or will not) provide the level of care provided by Parkway, or can only do so at many times the cost. Under universal healthcare it is likely that Americans will become much more willing to avail themselves of the opportunities provided by such institutions. New companies can be established to expedite the process for Americans, to help them match their needs to the best institutions across the globe, and to assure themselves of the best deal. Under even ideal circumstances, however, this option will be suitable to only a small minority of Americans who are desirous of more or better healthcare than the “system” is willing to provide. So more “creative” strategies will be needed.

Strategy B: Black Market Healthcare

DrRich has discussed this idea before, in a slightly different context. Doctors operating in this new, blacker healthcare sphere would offer patients completely clandestine, direct fee-for-service medical care. Their patients would be comprised mainly of otherwise law-abiding individuals who want or need medical care of a quality not provided by the universal system, and who are willing to pay for it. Physicians wishing to establish such practices but who are uncomfortable with the idea of setting up and maintaining illegal medical clinics might wish to study the methodologies employed by bootleggers and speakeasies during Prohibition. It was apparently quite common to run permanent or semi-permanent establishments during that time, often right out in the open, which were frequented by very prominent citizens, and which were clandestinely protected or at least ignored by the authorities. Perhaps it would be possible to set up such black market medical practices without actually creating a new Medical Mafia to support and organize the endeavor, or perhaps not. But given the inherent bloodthirstiness and ruthlessness of some physicians, adequately staffing such a new mafia, if it became necessary, would probably not prove an insurmountable challenge.

Strategy C: Offshore Medical Centers

This is similar to medical tourism, but much closer to home - literally, right offshore. DrRich envisions groups of investors purchasing mothballed nuclear-powered aircraft carriers from, say, the former Soviet Union, registering them in Liberia, and converting them into floating, state-of-the-art medical and research institutions, on a par with, say, the Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic. The floating medical institutions would ply the international waters just off the east and west coasts of the United States. Helicopters would provide regular shuttle service from several major coastal cities.

Strategy D: Native American Casinos and Medical Centers

Based on the same legal theory that permits native American tribes to establish gambling casinos within the sovereignty of their reservations, tribe-operated medical centers could also be established that function outside the constraints of the universal healthcare system. Of course, it is absolutely certain that the Church of Universal Healthcare would pull out all the stops to prevent such an eventuality. But, though DrRich is no lawyer, the sanctioning of reservation-based casinos offers a compelling precedent for the idea that native American tribes may choose to furnish American citizens with certain highly-desired services that the government (in its wisdom) has decided to withhold. Furthermore, the legitimate arguments which native Americans might invoke for special consideration - for instance, the past systematic injustices they have endured (up to and including genocide), and their own continued spotty access to quality healthcare, which would most certainly be cured by the establishment of their own ultra-modern medical institutions - could be parlayed into a powerful legal and political case for allowing native Americans to operate “off-the-grid” healthcare centers.

I also loved his Gitmo crack (from another entry (http://covertrationingblog.com/general-rationing-issues/covering-effective-medical-services-under-universal-healthcare)):


Furthermore, any health professional who attempts to provide services from this latter category (since those services are ineffective and harmful) will be guilty of crimes against humanity, and will likely forfeit their careers, life savings, and freedom. Indeed, DrRich supposes that the Obama administration may eventually see the wisdom in keeping Guantanamo open, if for no other reason than to have a suitable venue for detaining these healthcare terrorists.

It made me laugh until I realized it's really quite possible.

The Dems are behind the times with their glorious "Universal" system, considering many socialist systems are "reverting" back to private health care because their government-run systems are unsustainable and crappy.

TastyWheat
01-11-2009, 07:14 PM
C is definitely the coolest idea of them all. I can totally see the Hollywood elite sailing their yachts a few miles off the coast to get high quality treatment on the double. If the government asks what business does an aircraft carrier have off the US coast they should say, "Humanitarian aid." Oh, that would be so wonderfully degrading.

Lucille
01-12-2009, 08:23 AM
I like C too! I'll be investing.

We also live close to a few NA reservations and they would benefit from some topnotch health care clinics. I can see the reservations becoming a mecca for high quality free market health care clinics as well as health care training facilities. They might even lose their third world status.

LibertyEagle
01-12-2009, 09:23 AM
If the UN's Law of the Sea treaty (LOST) is passed (and I think it will), I think that'll probably put a kibosh on "c".

heavenlyboy34
01-12-2009, 10:59 AM
If the UN's Law of the Sea treaty (LOST) is passed (and I think it will), I think that'll probably put a kibosh on "c".
:(

Damned UN! :p The curse of Wilson/FDR lives on. :(