Healthcare Cost Control

by Narayanachar Murali MD

--get rid of all parasites and leeches that suck away tax dollars

(Ed Note: I "met" Dr. Murali on a physicians' website – a gastroenterologist, he is also well versed in healthcare reform matters.)

First, get rid of all parasites and leeches that suck away tax dollars.

Get rid of lawyers and institute a no-fault indemnity.

Get rid of quacks, unqualified people and charlatans (includes DNPs*).

This is the basic minimum. After that , get rid of hurdles to proper care like mandated stupid and redundant documentation.

Have minimum co-payment of $50-25 /visit to a doctor regardless of insurance plan.

Have minimum co-payment of $100 for CT scans.

Biologicals and expensive drugs should be open to foreign competition to drop costs. Stop protecting drug and insurance companies and mandate open competition. Ban lobbying by drug and insurance companies.

Allow doctors to share cost and income data openly.

$50 copayment for non-generic drugs. Drug companies should be banned from giving discount cards or indirectly covering the co-payment. This prevents over utilization and gaming the system.

Indemnify ED** physicians from any lawsuit. They are doing their best under difficult circumstances. they are the ones who contribute significantly to defensive medicine. with CT scans, labs, consults.

Minimum co-payments for all screening and preventive tests of $50.

Hefty cigarette and liquor taxes, just like in Europe and Asia.

Tax the health insurance benefits of employees and give employer a full tax break.

Mandatory Physical Ed with at least 1 hour of aerobic exercise in K1-12 schools, go for mass PE. Tax parents with more than two children in public schools..to make up the cost of hiring these staff.

I can go on...

Narayanachar Murali (contact Dr Murali through me)

* DNP = Doctor Nurse Practitioner **ED = Emergency Department