[StBernard] Governor Blanco urges support of SCHIP expansion

[Westley Annis]

	The dirty little secret is that Uncle Sam sets the prices for
medical care

Wes, thanks, I am quite aware.
Therefore I think that if Uncle Sam has to pay out more for healthcare
through expanded programs, maybe someone gets wise to the reason for the
high prices. 
 
The cost based Medicare was ridiculous. People had to charge higher to get
the highest possible reimbursement, and then the 'new average' cost was
recalculated higher again. A never ending spiral.
With the prospective payment system, it should be more in line, but
unfortunately it causes an enormous labor intensive process of calculating,
setting, billing, monitoring etc.
 
My intended point was that Feds cause the high rates, so Feds should feel
the pain of paying them, then maybe Feds will work on lowering them. 
 
Gaby
To live only for some future goal is shallow. 
It's the sides of the mountain that sustain life, not the top.

-Robert M. Pirsig