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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

In Dialysis, Life-Saving Care Comes At Great Risk And Cost

Every year, more than 100,000 Americans start dialysis. One in four of them will die within 12 months—a fatality rate that is one of the worst in the industrialized world. And dialysis arguably costs more here than anywhere else. Although taxpayers cover most of the bill, the government has kept confidential clinic data that could help patients make better decisions. How did our first foray into near-universal coverage, begun four decades ago with such great hope, turn out this way? And what lessons does it hold for the future of health care reform?

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2 comments:

Daddio said...

A couple of observations here:

1) It costs more here than anywhere else.

2) Taxpayers cover most of the bill.

So WHAT can we infer about the relationship between costs, and who is paying for it?

I am NOT looking forward to gov't run healthcare ....

lmclain said...

I'm willing to bet 1) that the companies that make these machines and supplies gave huge "campaign contributions" (bribes) to congressman 2) that the executives of these companies are extrememly rich now 3) that some Senators who came into Congress as middle class citizens are now also rich (I wonder how??) and 4) neither the CEO's or the Senators give a damn whether you live or die. and 5) when Obamacare kicks in, this scam (taxpayer funded dialysis) will seem like a penny-ante poker game. Any takers?