Reuters: "Study: For-profit hospitals bill bigger"

[MisterP]

"U.S. hospitals owned by investors with the aim of making money are less cost-efficient than nonprofits, Canadian researchers said.
"And experts who wrote a commentary on the study said converting all investor-owned hospitals to nonprofit status could have saved $6 billion in 2001."
"Devereaux and colleagues earlier showed that for-profit hospitals had higher death rates.
"'The reality is that for-profits face significant economic challenges. The first is they have to generate revenues that will satisfy shareholders,' Devereaux said."

http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/06/08/hospital.expenses.reut/index.html

Not surprising at all. Of course, Sen. Frist, being paraded as the new Albert Schweitzer, and family are among the biggest (if not the biggest) investors and owners of private hospitals and services.

[htuttle]

1. Captain Obvious strikes again!

Duh.

The entire privatization of government services movement is a scam. It's rarely, rarely cheaper to hire a private company to do something than have government do it themselves.

Some complain government is inefficient -- but they don't have to please stockholders, just voters. And voters would prefer cheaper costs (to keep taxes from getting high), and good service. Stockholders, on the other hand, prefer higher costs and 'cost cutting' instead of good service.

I'm a 'sewer socialist' on public services. If it's part of what could be considered 'infrastructure', it should be owned and managed collectively, ie., by government.

[denverbill]

2. I think I'll bookmark that thread.

Free markets and free enterprise aren't the only solutions, and sometimes, they aren't the best solution.

Demand for healthcare is not a commodity that should be controlled by price.

[Heddi]

3. And in other news:

Canadian researchers report the earth still revolves around the sun, the earth is still not flat, and the Pope is Catholic.

Film at 7

[MisterP]

5. *snort*

and don't forget dear lickle Fristie, the "Kitten Mengele"

[evil_orange_cat]

4. profiteering is costing human life...

more proof the right is evil

[Karenina]

6. THEY DON'T CARE!!!!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Kanary]

7. More ammo for the Universal health Care argument

I really like the last sentence........
"In health care, crime pays handsomely," Himmelstein commented.

USians are all too willing to settle for crime. Amazing.

Thanks for posting this!

Kanary