Managed-care companies are big part of the problem

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4:15 PM Thursday, August 20, 2009

Letters to the editor

This country is debating how to extend health care to all Americans and at the same time control costs.

If we continue as we are, the managed-care companies continue their lucrative business, which not only fails to control costs, but also disenfranchises a large portion of the American public. If we subsidize their premiums, they still continue as they are.

Whatever safeguards are enacted in the legislation will likely get so watered down that they will make little difference with respect to cost control and consumer protection .

If we are to have real reform, we have to cut out the managed-care companies as controlling interests. We can enact a single-payer system with policies set entirely by government and then contract with managed-care companies to manage the benefits, but they should have no voice in policies. They would be paid a fee . They could still sell private insurance to fill the gaps in a single-payer system .

In addition, we should discourage the payment of first-dollar health care costs by third-party payers. This would put the responsibility back on the patient, reducing unnecessary demand for health care. This should be coupled with affordable medical insurance and laws ensuring that cash-paying patients pay no more than what Medicare or Medicaid would pay for a service .

We should also consider subsidizing preventive care for all Americans. This would go a long way toward cost-cutting.

Wilbur R. Brooks

Dayton

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