I wonder how many people are aware of the massive extent to which the government meddles in the US medical market.
For example:
* Patents give a government enforced monopolies to pharmaceutical companies, thus preventing competitors from offering cheaper, better alternatives.
* Medical licensure laws severely restrict new entrants to the medical services market, thus allowing physicians and other providers to jack up their prices.
* inventors of new medicines must spend millions of dollars to meet FDA regulations, thus sharply limiting new medical products on the market.
* "Certificate of Need" laws give existing clinics power to determine whether new clinics are allowed to be built.
* State insurance regulations often prevent insurance companies from competing across state lines, thus reducing pressure on in-state insurance companies to reduce costs/offer better services.
* Tax law privileges health insurance provided through employer (medical benefits are not taxed as income). This increases the pressure on people to become employees, rather than work as an independent contractor.
* The USG government spends more per capita on healthcare than all but a few countries. ~60% of all healthcare dollars are spnt by the government.
#archer_medicine
For example:
* Patents give a government enforced monopolies to pharmaceutical companies, thus preventing competitors from offering cheaper, better alternatives.
* Medical licensure laws severely restrict new entrants to the medical services market, thus allowing physicians and other providers to jack up their prices.
* inventors of new medicines must spend millions of dollars to meet FDA regulations, thus sharply limiting new medical products on the market.
* "Certificate of Need" laws give existing clinics power to determine whether new clinics are allowed to be built.
* State insurance regulations often prevent insurance companies from competing across state lines, thus reducing pressure on in-state insurance companies to reduce costs/offer better services.
* Tax law privileges health insurance provided through employer (medical benefits are not taxed as income). This increases the pressure on people to become employees, rather than work as an independent contractor.
* The USG government spends more per capita on healthcare than all but a few countries. ~60% of all healthcare dollars are spnt by the government.
#archer_medicine