COVERITLIVE.COM

10:08

Cato Institute - Live Blog will begin now

10:10

Michael F. Cannon - President Obama said that sometimes we do know what stuff is unnecessary. But if we knew that, why wouldn't people -- doctors -- be eliminating it already? If this were an easy problem, we would have solved it already.

10:12

Michael F. Cannon - President Obama is advocating socialized medicine. To learn why, come to Cato's policy forum tomorrow, "Is This Socialized Medicine?"

10:14

Michael F. Cannon - The president is wrong about financial incentives for two reasons.

One, the problem is not fee-for-service payment. The problem is that we don't have a level playing field between fee-for-service and other payment systems.

Two, the reason we don't have that level playing field is government. The fact that the government is heavily involved in our health care sector gives the industry (i.e., doctors) the ability to preserve the payment system they prefer.

10:15

Michael F. Cannon - Great question, Diane! Bad answer, Mr. President!

The reason the Mayo model of health care delivery hasn't spread is government: clinician-licensing laws, insurance-licensing laws, the tax code, Medicare, Medicaid.

10:16

Michael F. Cannon - "Like it or not, the government is going to be involved"?? So much for being open to all ideas.

10:16

Cato Institute - Obama: Senior citizens love health care

10:17

Cato Institute - Question: What will the administration do to make the ER not the primary source of care

10:19

Michael F. Cannon - Medicare was progress?? The State Children's Health Insurance Program was progress?? Where is the evidence, Mr. President?

Click here for the weak evidence re SCHIP.

Click here for the weak evidence re Medicare and universal coverage generally.

10:19

Michael D. Tanner -

I'm concerned by this whole idea that there is a single "best" way to practice medicine or provide treatment. Health care value is highly idiosyncratic. What is quality care for me, may not be quality care for you. If the government gets involved it will either aim care toward the middle/average, or more likely politicize its decisions, or both. Either way, its not a decision some board can make by a 6-5 vote.

Page 1 Next >