I have a solution. Tell me why it won't work.\nFirst of all limit lawsuits. The cost of malpractice insurance and "punitive damages" payouts add a staggering figure to every patients bill.  A friveless lawsuit addendum should be added as well, payable by the filing attornys at the descreation of a grand jury style panel.\nNext, overhaul the FDA.  As it stands now, the FDA has no accountability to people who would be helped by drugs when they delay approval and it provides no protection to companys who have spent $ millions in research to bring these drugs to those who need them.\nWhy can't the FDA provide protection from punitive damage lawsuits if it can be proven that the company that brings the drug to market provided complete transparencey to the agency.\nI feel the reason these changes aren't being made is most of congress are, infact, members of the bar and thier loyalties are to that group before the public's.\nJohn Edwards who ran on this platform yet made his $ by suing Drs.
134265
your ideas are good, but there is too much money to be made, remember congress get health care and money from drug companies and lawyers, and doctors groups, so why would they want to change it when they get everything they need?\nThey get money from both sides
193337
Prescription drugs have to go through a study...just like that...before any rational doctor will precribe them and before the FDA will even approve them!
37146
That's quite a bit to sort through. I'll do my best.\n\nI believe that individual doctors almost always have the best interests of their patients in mind. Medicine as a whole, however, is far more interested in the bottom line. This applies especially to the drug companies. From what I understand certain diseases don't have enough people suffering from them to make it profitable to research treatments for them. Or, if the research has been done, there is not enough profit in manufacturing drugs to treat these people. I've even read that there are boutique chemists who make, by hand, very small runs of certain drugs at no profit to themselves, simply to help out.\n\nAs far as I'm concerned, this is inexcusable. Do I have a solution? No. Are alternative treatments viable? I'm sure that sometimes they are and sometimes they are not. Again, the problem comes down to making a buck. People who are suffering are, unfortunately, easy marks and snake-oil-salesmen have known this since the dawn of civilization.\n\nThe problem becomes sorting the con-men from the well-meaning, but dangerously untrained, from the people with actual remedies. This is very difficult and requires a tremendous amount of work on the part of people who often lack the time and energy to do the necessary legwork because they are sick.\n\nCoretta Scott King died seeking medical help from a quack. It is awful that she suffered such an undignified end, but as long as there are people to be taken advantage of, others will do their best to part them from their money. \n\nObviously not all alternative treatments are quackery, but they often get lumped together because of the actions of a few (many, actually) bad apples. I would suggest that the alternative-therapy industry engage in harsher self-policing as a way to remove the undeserved black-mark.\n\nAs for you responding to questions which are specifically targeted at individuals, I welcome this. The thing that I like most about Yahoo Answers is that it is a place that encourages the free exchange of ideas between anybody. I don't think that anyone can, or should, get upset when a targeted question receives several answers. That's the best thing about this place. So, feel free to throw your two cents in anytime. I really appreciate your response about Bush and Christians. I'd be very curious to hear what this man, who presumes to speak for all Christian Americans would have to say about that. Thanks for your input.
49589
I am a consultant who earns $75 an hour and have not had insurance for years.  It is not an issue to me.  The issue of the next election should be centered around governments interference in our lives.  Smaller government, less taxes & obliteration of family court.
464532
The critical issue in medicine is that it is all controlled by the drug compamies.\nMedicine is the ONLY industry where this happens. The cement and brick manufacturers do not control the building industry, for example. This leads to a complete bias towards profit, and the elimination of many alternative medicines and techniques which would be better for the patient. There are over 100 alternative treatments for cancer, for example, which do not involve drugs, surgery, or hospital equipment. Because the FDA is also totally controlled by the drug companies, it refuses to recognise ANY of these thousands of techniques, meaning that the patients health is no longer the most important thing.\nIf a building's safety became unimportant, there would be an outcry, so why does the medical industry allow this to continue.
563069
it is pretty hard to cure something. the human body is complex. the FDA approves drugs though. the drug companies havent earned any right to provide solutions to the health care problem. you are free to.
627514
That's the greatest thing I've seen all day! Thank you. I'm pretty sure it's going to be a short term clause, but it's good to see somebody trying to work within the system. It' won't work in the long run, but bringing public awareness around is a good step (if a small one) towards political change. Plus, it's pirates! How cool is that?! Avast! Arrgghh!
385808
I live in BC and I could solve the so-called health-care crisis by largely getting rid of walk-in clinics.  I would at least charge 20 dollars a visit for walk-ins vs. a regular doctor.  This would reduce waiting times in clinics and health-care costs.  It would also force lazy doctors to open their own practises.   \n\nI would also make it illegal for an employer or school to require a note from a doctor if a student has missed classes.  This is a waste of tax payers money and increases wait times.  I would make it law that all employers must give employees  no questions asked sick days.  \n\nI would also make it easier for patients to refill simple presciptions at a pharmacist and not have to go back to their doctor.
35115
If the entire US congress can't get to the bottom of this, I don't know what we can do.  They are having hearings right now to try to find out what to do about this horrible mess.  Meanwhile millions of taxpayer dollars are going down the drain.\n\nCall you congress person and demand that something be done!\n\nThat's what I did.
456283
Isn't being a bad citizen too broad?  Wouldn't major law and guidelines have to be broken?  If not, who would be the judge?  I think that you know that money pays a big part in this consideration.  I think that it an enlightening idea, I just wonder at first glance- how would it be regulated?   Money is the big player.  Thanks for making me think about something different.
423825
What will it take?\n\nIMO, it'll take getting big business and corporations out of health care!  Their focus is on the bottom line.  They're plenty happy to see us all stick our fingers, tummies, and whatever, and swallow enough pills to choke a horse FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES, because then they get more money!\n\nMy diabetes educator was at a conference and was seated at a table with several research folks.  She asked them whether a cure was actually close, due to all the reports in the media.  They said, "Nope."\n\nSad but true...
628618
At least you  have thought intelligently about how we middle class citizens can survive with all the burdens that hard work costs us personally!  It's a pretty innovative concept, but you are over-looking the fact that this possible solution would effect the wealthier portion of our population and really what does wealth go hand in hand with.........?.....\nPOWER, my friend...the rich would never allow such a solution!  Keep brainstorming.....perhaps a workable idea to save the debacle our government calls "retirement"...........We pay and pay and research shows that our medicare/retirement benefits (which enable us to dine on dog food) will virtually become non-existent before too long!!
213720
Funny thing is, I am a LEGAL resident and I can't go to a doctor because I don't have health insurance, and not even once it crosses my mind going to the ER to get primary care. I pay my taxes and do everything by the book, and as a legal resident I cannot (and don't want anyways) use any kind of welfare until I have been working here for 10 years (that's my understanding, correct me if I'm wrong) but the illegals always find a way to misuse the system. Do you know how many families "recycle" insurance cards to fraudulently get medical care because in one family they have 5 "Maria Perez"'s? Sorry, that's illegal and it puts a huge strain on the medical system. And of course those living of of welfare...So I don't think they should use the hospitals to survive, the HC system is already falling apart! I will not deny them of medical care but I don't think it's right. What needs to be done is to fix the problem at the root, and not just use "quick fixes".
557240
We need a health care system in this country and it will be hard to get. You know who is in congress. pro business!\n\nWe need a way to pool the Monet, an have some say into some things, like costs!\n\nHMO's who have people who are paid over 2 million a year plus bonus, plus their stockholders. They are taking all that from you before they have paid a thing!! There are over 450 HMO's in NJ!\n\nWhen I retired from the state, all of a sudden the HMO who represents retired state workers can get pills that I was paying over $12.00 each, I can get a 3 month supply for $4.00! That's right! $4.00 for three months!\n\nMedications is too expensive and needs to be brought under control. I don't have an issue with someone making a profit, but a 14 Million dollar income for 1 person in an HMO? That is obscene, and they have at least 3 more making more than 2 million a year. Now multiply that by the # of HMO's and the money they return to their shareholders, who didn't work a damn day!. That's a lot of money that goes to everything but health care.\n\nI have a ton of those example's, and I am sure we have enough smart people, who are not politicians, who can come up with a health care plan. What do you think an HMO is?
142708
That's just one more side of all this problem, and the previous answer is rigth too.. The drugs find most of the consumer in the USA, and meanwhile in Latin America we haven't been able to have the economical growth needed, and that's a very profitable business!!!\n\nBut this is only a part of it, as i have been said, those lots of sides of the story should be known, studied, and solved TOGHETER!\n\nWhy don't we all take a break on this issue, as the congress men, and maybe we'll comeback with a whole bunch of information and good new ideas.lol.
397531
Yes, it is really sad that one of the wealthiest nations in the world does not supply health care for it's residents.  Write your congressman.  Talk to your representative.  If enough people make noise, they'll have no choice but to hear us!
199048
There should be no illegal drudge.  There are all kinds of medical uses for every drug created but in the US we have illegal drugs that your Dr. cannot prescribe for you even if it would save your life.  Heroin is used routinely to treat severe cancer related pain in other countries.  LSD was developed to treat alcoholism, marijuana has several uses. Cocaine also has several uses.  I think the hype surrounding illegal drugs is just a propaganda thing of the politicians to have a platform to get our votes.  There are just as many abuses of legal drugs as there is of illegal drugs.  And what about alcohol & tobacco?  They are legal & are the worst of them all.  Anyway,  my point is, if they were legal there would be no war on drugs.  We'd save all kinds of tax money.  Do away with DEA,ATF, RENU & a lot of idiot stupid laws.  I don't even & never have done drugs but if everything were legal, then tax the h--- out of the recreational drugs & set up rehabs etc. for the druggies.