Where does healthcare fit in with the anger of the OWS crowd. In short, it seems to be a group of mostly young/younger folks who are discouraged (angry) at not only the enormous wealth redistribution of the last 30 years but the enormous power redistribution of the last 10-15 years. Clearly, individual access to their government is nonexistent without a fee. The only individual interaction with government for most of these people is unpleasant - IRS issues, immigration issues, tickets, fees and regulations. What was good with the financial industry, helping move middle class people toward retirement, or loans to keep a business afloat is mostly non-existent these days. What was good with government, support of science, advances in technology that could be rolled into drivers in the private economy, strong infrastructure, reasonably priced transportation and education is now also a thing of the past.
So does this have anything to do with healthcare or have we already been under the microscope and had our reality check. Hospitals and doctors have heard that it costs too much and that the industry has self corrected so slowly that the government is stepping in to create the incentives and the hammers. But have we really had our occupy moment?
Let's consider the trends. "Size and scale are essential." "Consolidation, mergers and closures will only increase." "Systems are national and regional". With systems, often goes the elimination of the community board. National trends are driving toward fewer independent players and we are seeing hospitals serving regional, national and international markets. Charity care is being measured and with it, tax exemption. Threats to no longer serve certain product lines if tax exemption goes away are discussed behind closed doors. Margin drives product line development, not community need. Competition raises costs in many markets. Patients have limited rights over their own records (think credit companies).
The public sees physicians seeking higher incomes (rightly so given the right to passage in medical school is a $200-400k investment). CEOs average income is $750k with a range that seems to have a bottom but no ceiling. Health insurers are in the banker category. Clearly the 1%.
Health disparities are rising along income and racial lines. Blacks and Latinos are being hit with the highest unemployment and already experienced documented outcomes that were far worse than the average population. Twenty two percent of children living in poverty, translating into a large segment of the population that get their health care from doctors that accept Medicaid. Many don't or don't practice in an area where the poor live.
Are we immune from the anger?. I think not. It has always been there through the tort system but that was a small percent. The 99% is realizing that it can't access healthcare, can't pay for it and can't always influence how it is delivered in its community. Loss of control, yes. Anger, could be. I don't think its going away.
