HEALTH CARE - Drowning in Debt

"Should the federal government be able to negotiate the prices of prescription drugs?" PBS NewsHour 12/12/2019

Is this even a real question?  Of course we should, that is one reason we pay more for medical drugs than many other nations.  And of course Republicans receive very big 'donations' for Big Pharma.

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Americans spend more on prescription drugs than any other country in the world: about $1,200 per person every year.  One in four say the cost is problematic, and some say they haven’t taken their medicine as directed as a result.  In Congress, both parties are looking to address the problem -- but with different approaches.  William Brangham talks to Emmarie Huetteman of Kaiser Health News.

"Americans are drowning in medical debt, so this nonprofit is buying — and forgiving — it" PBS NewsHour 12/12/2019

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Collectively, Americans owe nearly a trillion dollars of medical debt, and Congress is trying to figure out a policy response.  But in the meantime, economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on an unusual non-profit’s effort to relieve the burden of medical debt for those in need.

Here's another thought:

1. Our present health care system = [you] -> [middle man, fee & profit driven health insurers] -> [health care provider, doctors, hospitals, pharmacy]
2. Better way = [you] -> [Medicare, fix fee not-for-profit] -> [health care provider, doctors, hospitals, pharmacy]