> You can’t even build a hospital ... without government permission.
You are talking about Certificates of Need which are investigations to show that an area needs a new facility...
The concept of a CoN was lobbied for by hospitals and healthcare providers who wanted "guarantees" of profits before they'd commit to building new facilities. The CoN process helps existing facilities get a say in whether a new hospital should be allowed in the area. The government itself generally doesn't care.
I think they're pointing out that heavily regulated industries are very easy to fall prey to regulatory capture, which benefits incumbents at the expense of users and those trying to enter the industry from outside. Healthcare in the US is nowhere close to a free market, so it seems perfectly reasonable to question the GP if it's asked in good faith (it's not).
> suggesting that less regulation would make healthcare better?
No, but more competition would. If we want to have private healthcare, we have to actually let free markets work. Our current system is the worst of both worlds.
You are talking about Certificates of Need which are investigations to show that an area needs a new facility...
The concept of a CoN was lobbied for by hospitals and healthcare providers who wanted "guarantees" of profits before they'd commit to building new facilities. The CoN process helps existing facilities get a say in whether a new hospital should be allowed in the area. The government itself generally doesn't care.