How Free Should A Health Care Market Be?
Just how “free” should a health care market be? This is at the heart of the health care debate, and the train wreck we call our economy is now making even the biggest fans of deregulation pause.
The National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) Framework for Health Care Reform does not assume the “free market” can, should, or ever will create quality health care to all.
Instead, we propose a national health care system that
- is not tied to employment
- provides individuals with a benefits package equivalent to the most comprehensive plan available to Members of Congress
This isn’t a “we want what they have” proposal. Actually, we want something much better. NBCC’s health care framework includes real accountability to the users and the public, including a federal board that includes consumer advocates charged with determining coverage for care that is based on the best available scientific evidence and is cost effective.
Yes, we go the next (difficult) step. Care that it not based on science and is not cost effective will not be covered, unless as part of a quality clinical trial or otherwise contributing to the evidence base.
Wait, what was that? Consumer advocates who don’t just want to consume as many health care interventions as possible? That’s right. At NBCC we want a system that provides the right care at the right time, actually learns from experience, and is efficient. Not “more care.”
Filed under: Financing Health Care Access, NBCC Health Care Framework