[abfan1127]

Profit is a strong incentive to optimize. non-profit organizations are under different incentives. They both have pitfalls, they both have advantages.

[conscion]

Profit is a strong incentive when there's active competition. When there's not competition, for-profit business turn to extracting rents on captive customers.

Health care larger is not a competitive market. Lots of customers only have limited options (i.e. rural hospitals) and the urgency of some purchases don't support competition (i.e. ER visits)

[abfan1127]

I agree its not a competitive market. Rural areas suffer in all areas of limited markets, medical isn't special. Government involvement (including, but not limited to limiting licensing). insurance clouds the market as well (both how we procure insurance and government limitations of insurance).

[yunwal]

> Profit is a strong incentive to optimize.

Optimize what? Certainly not costs, since for-profit hospitals have every incentive to push for unneeded expensive operations.

Maybe you’re mistaking healthcare for a market where meaningful competition and information symmetry exists?