| It sounds to me that what is being monetized is the authority of doctors. I think what you've described is really the US healthcare system as a whole. I really don't understand why this isn't more of a focus of discussion. The US healthcare system is so monopolized, and so lacking in competition and transparency, it's obvious why healthcare costs are skyrocketing. I understand the outrage over this story, but I don't understand why it might be surprising to some. So much of the US healthcare system is driven by similar incentives, especially at private, for-profit hospitals (and even at nonprofit public hospitals). Think about it this way. Take some fundamental human need. Now legislate and structure society so only a relatively tiny number of people with a specific certificate, based on program completion, not skills demonstration per se, can supply that need. Go even further and structure the regulation of that certification by people who already have the certificate, under the argument that they are the only ones who are in a position to judge it. Now reinforce the whole thing by FUD arguments that any other approach will lead to catastrophe, illness, and death. What do you think is going to happen? Almost everything about the US healthcare system is characterized by rent-seeking, monopolies, or power structures and lack of transparency. It's begging for corruption. If you wanted to design an economic sector so as to drive up costs, you'd end up with something that looks basically like US healthcare. |