Note that some leftists are complaining that the proposed new Vermont system does not regulate medicine enough(!):
Himmelstein [Dr. David Himmelstein, a professor at the City University of New York's School of Public Health and a proponent of a national single payer system] said that the law should be more explicit about not having copayments and deductibles and make a greater commitment to global budgeting, in which providers pay for a patient's healthcare with a set fee for the year.In other words, a government-set ceiling on how much money could be spent each year on a patient's care. Just don't call it "rationing".
The 10/1/2011 Boston Herald discusses, "Health costs, Massachusetts-style". Their conclusion:
Those of us in Massachusetts, long accustomed to double-digit rate increases, have only one thing to say to the rest of the nation: We could have told you so!(Via @TOSJournal.)
The Massachusetts Medical Society reported on 10/3/2011 of critical shortages in 8 medical specialties in Massachusetts, including dermatology, family medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, neurosurgery, orthopedics, psychiatry, and urology.
These shortages are not only affected the rural portions of Massachusetts but suburbs such as Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, and Arlington. (Via @Lucidicus.)
