[apathy]

This is interesting -- suppose that the choke point of negotiation was handled by the government on behalf of citizens, but the administration of programs was privatized? That could be interesting.

Lord knows I've had about enough red tape for several lifetimes from NIH, NSF, and similar organs; Medicare as it now stands somehow manages to result in both medicine-at-a-loss and also fraud on a spectacular scale. I'm not a big fan of government but between consolidation and fragmentation, I don't think the current medical care solution is working, nor is it sustainable.