Thread

1. tptacek · 1790292147 · focus · HN ↗

   This is a huge problem in US health care financing: we have a fee-for-service model, no price transparency, and a consumer base (insulated from a lot of the costs of procedures by indirect payment through employer-provided insurance) conditioned to think procedures are inherently good. We waste billions annually on procedures that shouldn't be delivered at all.

   I'm fond of pointing out the stat (true as of a year ago) that Massachusetts (I think it's MA?) has more MRI machines than the entire country of Canada.

   1. nickff · 1790296201 · focus · HN ↗

      >"I'm fond of pointing out the stat (true as of a year ago) that Massachusetts (I think it's MA?) has more MRI machines than the entire country of Canada."

      Long wait times (6-12 months+) for MRIs (due to a lack of both machines and technicians) are a frequent complaint by Canadians.

      1. nradov · 1790296296 · focus · HN ↗

         Yep. Wealthy Canadians often come to the USA as medical tourists and pay cash to skip the queue at home for elective procedures like MRIs or joint replacements.

         1. Roland303 · 1790296680 · focus · HN ↗

            [dead]

            1. harimau777 · 1790296891 · focus · HN ↗

               I think the actual issue is that America often has infinite wait times because people can't afford the procedure.

               1. Roland303 · 1790299006 · focus · HN ↗

                  Oh yes I see, America bad, got it.

                  1. harimau777 · 1790697942 · focus · HN ↗

                     Yes, clearly that's what I mean as opposed to... you know... what I actually said.

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