Socialized Medicine, Montana Style
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer wants to establish a government-run health care plan in his state, patterned after the program used in Saskatchewan. He then went on to explain how his government-run system might keep taxpayer spending on health care low:
Chris Jacobs has discovered that “Wait List FAQs” from the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency includes this helpful guidance for cancer patients:
What are you doing to ensure that I get an appointment in a timely way?
Currently we have a shortage of medical oncologists that is impacting our wait times. We are also actively recruiting to fill our vacant positions throughout our facilities and are working to bring in locums to help address wait times….
Can I get care sooner if I go somewhere else?
You will find that wait times exist in the healthcare system throughout Canada and in other countries as well….
Horrors.
That’s a pretty strong argument against Governor Schweitzer’s proposal.
Cancer care is one of the horrors of modern medicine. It’s too expensive to treat everyone with the same drugs. But, if you don’t, then people have to go home and wonder about this mass growing inside of them. It’s an awful catch 22, and I think it’s a problem in all countries.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-26/cancer-cost-swells-risks-becoming-unsustainable-lancet-says.html