TED CRUZ is on the media interview path to implant his great wealth of knowledge as an attorney. Today, he was mocking blue states for not implementing universal healthcare unilaterally. Apparently, he is wholly unaware of the pitfalls:
- States cannot easily redirect existing federal funds from programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into a unified state pot without federal waivers or legislative changes, ie, Medicare is a federal tax that would amount to double taxation.
- The federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) makes it very difficult for states to tax or alter employer-sponsored health insurance plans, which cover a huge portion of the working population.
- Under constitutional rulings like Sáenz v. Roe, states cannot easily deny benefits to out-of-state residents, raising fears that a state with generous coverage would face an influx of patients from neighboring states (“medical tourism”).
The nightmare of putting forward such a package and navigating the hurdles would become a veritable legal mess with lawsuits on both sides in high gear. Lawyers drooling over large class-actions, and backlogs in court. Medical tourism would drive up lead times for care, and create a shortage of beds. Yet, Cruz in all his bombast thinks he is hilariously outing the Democrats. In Cruz’s entire legal career which lasted 7 years he won 3 cases including one he brought to the Supreme Court to help politicians recoup ‘campaign loans’, ie, the suit was brought by Cruz personally. Cruz argued that money he used in his own campaign was not a pledge but a ‘loan’ and therefore reimbursable.
The Socialized medicine of both Canada and the UK has gone through dramatic pitfalls of the course of its implementation. The UK’s National Health Service was implemented in 1948, Canada’s in 1966 under the Medical Care Act. Their biggest challenge has always been attracting doctors and nurses. In the UK, junior doctors rate of pay is 41,000 pounds to 55,000 pounds. Specialty trained ranges from 64,000 to 115,000 pounds. As a result, foreign trained doctors make up 42% of the workforce. Given India’s recent scandal over medical exams… Not Stellar.
By comparison, physicians in the US make $386,000 to $463,000 while neurosurgeons command $750,000. Yet we are to believe it is all about ‘billing’ and ‘administration’ that has created a Healthcare windfall. Obviously the first pushback toward universal healthcare comes from the physicians – secondarily it is insurance which makes a tidy sum given the cost can reach upwards of $200,000 per year for high risk specialties. IF Universal Healthcare were implemented in the US – that insurance would plummet! Attorneys would lobby as their 33% to 40% cut for every malpractice claim is the third most prolific cost passed to US citizens.
In other words – In The US – Universal Healthcare Will Never Happen. It is a dead topic before it reaches the mouth of babes. If Ted Cruz is unaware – he is an incompetent fool. If he knows and pretends not to – he is a belligerent arse.
As hospitals attempt to shift costs, more and more are opting to hire doctors as 1099 consultants rather than wage employees. The reason is to burden the cost of the insurance, malpractice, and legal expenses to the doctors. In addition, 25% to 30% of general physicians in the US are now foreign born while over 47% are Internal Medicine are foreign born. While reducing exorbitant wages born by hospitals – particularly Kaiser, this savings is NOT passed to US citizens. Top country of origin – India.
Cuba has 1 doctor for every 121 residents. Roughly 24,000 to 37,000 Cuban medical personnel are stationed abroad across more than 50 to 60 countries on government-led medical missions – including Ebola in Africa. They are considered some of the most highly qualified doctors in the world and are highly coveted. In contrast to US doctors, Cuban doctors are trained in cures as opposed to Big Pharma Medicine. Which is likely why the tiny island is reviled by America.
Palestine and Lebanon are widely recognized for producing exceptionally skilled and highly resilient medical professionals who contribute significantly to global healthcare. My brother-in-law was such an individual who came from Lebanon where is father was an acclaimed physician. Like Cuba, these doctors focus on functional and integrative medicine – bypassing traditional western pharmaceuticals. How much does this play in the demonization of specific countries and cultures?
One such individual is Dr. Maya Romani. She is the head of the Health and Wellness Center at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. “Within the Department of Family Medicine, she has been a leading figure in establishing regional integrative health forums in Lebanon. Her work focuses on evidence-based practices that combine conventional approaches with supportive, natural, and lifestyle-driven therapies.”
Of course, the original source of the Big Pharma protocol came from the Rockefeller Institute in 1911 wherein any doctor practicing natural therapies was widely demonized as a “QUACK”. And anyone ‘stupid enough’ to forego the Rockefeller subsequent plagues, pandemics and epidemics – was illiterate.
Today, the US is the world’s largest user of Big Pharma. The Highest spender on Big Pharma. Big Pharma spending in the US is highest among diabetes, oncology, autoimmune, and respiratory diseases. On the other hand, antihypertensives and mental health drugs are the leading classes based on the number of prescription filled.