Will More Bike Paths Lower Health Care Costs?
Under the law, chain restaurants will have to provide nutrition information on their menus. Employers must provide “reasonable break time” for nursing mothers. Health insurance companies will soon have to cover all recommended screenings, preventive care and vaccines, without charging co-payments or deductibles…and a new federal trust fund will pay for more bicycle paths, playgrounds, sidewalks and hiking trails.
Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, said the measures, taken together, had immense potential to “save lives and to save money.”
But did she say it with a straight face?
Full article on new health initiatives meant to encourage healthy behavior.
Only a handful of preventive services actually saves money. The vast majority cost more than they save — or they shift medical costs to a future period. After all, mortality is 100% in the long run.
I also fear mandating “preventive services” with no cost-sharing will cause a huge escalation in the number and cost of services deemed preventive. When something is free there is a powerful incentive, both on the part of providers and patients, to over-consume it.
New bike paths will be used primarily by people who are already motivated to walk or ride. I doubt if any overweight people will be induced to give up Big Macs for walking because calorie disclosure and bike paths.
John, when you are engaged in deadpan humor, you always show a sraight face.
Will bike paths lower health care costs. Not if you count the cost of the paths as health care spending. I can’t believe anyone is taking this seriously.
In the nanny state, the government organizes your entire life. This isn’t about health care or about controlling costs. This is about controlling people.
I agree with Joe. The message isn’t really about controlling costs. It’s about planning the American way of life to suit their own ideals.
The answer to your question is: no, is this a joke?
One more thought: Spending money on bike paths will probably be more productive and less harmful to health than spending it on comparative effectiveness research.