The St. Paul Pioneer Press had, in my opinion, an excellent article
by Jean E. Schauer which is linked below. I quote several
points from her article.
“We’ve insulate people form the cost of care ---
and employers have become our scapegoats.”
“Isn’t it odd that my veterinarian can tell me
exactly how much tests cost for my dogs, yet my doctor has no idea how much my
Pap test costs?”
“The Health Care Financing Administration predicts
health care costs in our nation will double --- to $2.8 trillion – by 2011.
What then?”
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/opinion/8287743.htm
Her article is right on the mark when she says “I’m
still waiting to see practical suggestions for real people.” I
would add so are the rest of us!
Are their others out there who are willing to start the fire
to put healthcare costs/real solutions back on the table for November
elections? We need to get people, providers and employers at the same table.
I believe the tools “a web site, host server and SQL
data base software” are available in Winona free” what is
needed are volunteers to set it up, get it going and keep it maintained.
Corporate, University and Citizen Programmers, server and data base managers
are the critical first group to get it going. Jean’s revolution can
start in Winona if we have willing citizens who are
willing to roll up their sleeves, share their talent and create a data base to
build the first area wide price list for healthcare services to enable consumer
knowledge as the foundation to inform buyers and reduce costs
As Jean says “The fact is, until we “inform”
consumers through their pocketbooks about the true cost of health care, we will
make no headway.”
Paul Double
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
