3     June 6, 2008 - 10:59am | elauesen

This is an interesting question/topic

We need to track the cost of health care because it changes almost daily, always up and never down. Because there is no "commodities" market tracking the price of health care like there is for oil, we have no grasp on the floating cost of a "basket" of healthcare. Yet, be assured, it floats...and upward, always upward. The only time we "track" the cost is when a study provides an annual 'snapshot'.

For example, Mike Bradner told me yesterday that the cost of a bed-night at Providence is $7,000! Is that true? How much is it today, $7,051.67? What is the basis for that cost and the subsequent increase?

And this leads to another point: average national costs are meaningless statistics to me. What I want to know is what I have to pay for healthcare right here in the moose range. I really don't give a crap about Atlanta, Georgia where census bureau statistical data is gathered on a continuous basis.

While we are angry (rightfully) about the cost of energy, we are only aware of it because we fill our car up every other day. The price at the pump raises our awareness of the incremental increase in cost of energy. The other day one older fellow groused to me that the price of gas "goes up fast but comes down slow..." He knows that because he tracks those costs.

We see the doctor less frequently, we go to the hospital rarely, hence the incremental cost increase in health evades our notice.

So...here's my proposal. Let's set up a system for tracking the cost of healcare. This might be less of a journalistic exercise than a reporting one that could be coordinated with the State or ISER who might cooperate with the ADN on this project.

Each month report what average the bed/day cost is in Anchorage Metro. This would have to include comparable parameters of service that some consulting physician could help develop.

That same report would include a survey of a "market basket" of common medications such a lipitor, diabetic medicines, and the most common antidepressants. Again, a consulting expert could provide that list.

Each month survey the average cost of anasthesia and anastheseologist services would be tracked.

And just for the urban myth interest, each month list the cost of a box of Kleenex during the hospital stay.

I think if the ADN set up a local health care cost monitoring system, it would be an award-winner. It would also be a way for the much-vaunted "free eneterprise" system to work, as consumers would then complain, hospital administrators would be shamed and Alaska Regional might engage in price discounting to compete for market share.

Just a thought.

;)-Elstun

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  2     June 5, 2008 - 7:39pm | cupik

"Anatomy of Chaos"

one of my favorite websites and newsletters is:

economyincrises.org

plenty of fodder there

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  1     June 5, 2008 - 5:01pm | just_tired

Sick System

This title is all encompassing and would lead to a larger discussion. Instead of being against the system, We need to work with the checks and balances alotted to us and make it work for us-Not against us. If we could just come together and find our own common ground, then and only then could see some; To quote OBAMA: "Change". Change like social medicine, Big Business VS. The people, The Energy Crisis (ANWR), Racism, Gay rights, American Natives' Rights,Drug War, War In Iraq, the list could go on for miles. I support Sick System or It is your right to know.... .Just some suggestions.

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