The ink wasn’t dry on the healthcare legislation when “doubts” and “concerns” were raised on the financial viability of this “reform.”
Read the Boston Globe story. Joy and worry?
This certainly concerns me:
Senator Richard Moore, Democrat of Uxbridge, cochairman of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, said he does not believe that the program will run a deficit, partly because legislators have included several cost-control measures.
In microeconomic theory, “cost control” is code for “shortage.” When you artificially limit the price of something, and you artificially create a shortage of it. Someone please cite any cost- or price-control scheme which hasn’t created a shortage of the commodity being cost- or price-controlled.
Gasoline, circa 1973? Anybody?
If the concern about the law’s viability come true, and cost-controls are implemented, then it’s very likely some form of rationing of healthcare services will emerge. This is what plagues most nationalized healthcare systems (like Canada’s.)
I don’t know who wins or loses politically with this ill-conceived legislation, but in its current configuration this program is headed for financial insolvency, political manipulation, and, finally, state take-over from top to bottom.
Is this what Massachusetts needs or wants?
Boston Globe: âHealth Executives Emerge as Stateâs New Power Players,â by Christopher Rowland, March 13, 2006.