My YouTube Rant After Reading NE Journal of Medicine study that Single Payer Medicaid Expansion Cheapest Way to save lives

[video:https://youtu.be/CnoolHkn2WE]
More below:

From "Health Insurance Coverage and Health — What the Recent Evidence Tells Us,"
Benjamin D. Sommers, M.D., Ph.D., Atul A. Gawande, M.D., M.P.H., and Katherine Baicker, Ph.D.
June 21, 2017

Are the benefits of publicly subsidized coverage worth the cost? An analysis of mortality changes after Medicaid expansion suggests that expanding Medicaid saves lives at a societal cost of $327,000 to $867,000 per life saved.29 By comparison, other public policies that reduce mortality have been found to average $7.6 million per life saved, suggesting that expanding health insurance is a more cost-effective investment than many others we currently make in areas such as workplace safety and environmental protections.29,54 Factoring in enhanced well-being, mental health, and other outcomes would only further improve the cost–benefit ratio. But ultimately, policymakers and other stakeholders must decide how much they value these improvements in health, relative to other uses of public resources — from spending them on education and other social services to reducing taxes.

Medicaid is an underfunded, single payer insurance program that our governments, State and Federal, administrate. This study makes clear it saves lives, and does it cheaper than any other thing Big Guvmint does to save lives. But the "policymakers and other stakeholders" (i.e., both major parties and their oligarchic corporate donors) have decided saving lives by giving us a single payer, Medicare-for-All insurance program in the most cost effective way is not worth sacrificing the revenues and profits of health insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry, and in the GOP's case, cutting taxes for the top 1 percent.

Which is why I swear a lot in the video I made after reading that article.

Bonus feature: My Twitter Thread rant about all this:

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part that our owners aren't interested in. The joint has to get under new management, and soon.

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Orwell: Where's the omelette?

Wink's picture

@jim p

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

riverlover's picture

I have yet to receive my latest hospital bills. Always a shocker. But I currently have late bills elsewhere, and they don't give a shit that I have paid on-time for >20 years and was in the hospital with my third head injury in 6 months. Thank NYS for an insurance subsidy for state retirees.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

Song of the lark's picture

Is getting on board with some good data, but anyone who looked at the data from much of the rest their of the sensible world and their single payer, universal health systems could and has been telling democrats what's up for a long time. I'll make a prediction that the first viable, unencumbered, well spoken, not bought off politician who supports single payer will become president. The miasma of bullshit we have been subjected to in recent years and the on going subterfuge of the Trump administration and GOP lackeys in congress has woken many people up. Frankly people are getting full of this crap shoveled our way. I really believe that even many of the RWNJs know that status quo is not working. Sanders set the table who will cut the roast beef and get it done.

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Song of the lark's picture

Not to pry but it seems to be a year round decoration?

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Strife Delivery's picture

@Song of the lark Probably a christmas tree that never got taken down.

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Steven D's picture

@Strife Delivery You got it.

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"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Strife Delivery's picture

@Steven D I've dealt with my fair share of delayed taking down of decorations.

On topic, the people in government know that single payer will be cheaper. Yes, there are some who are just pure ideologues. But, at least in my mind, the government officials know this. They just don't care.

They are paid not to care. That's why there are so many excuses, such mealy-mouthed answers, such deflections. They know the truth, but do not care.

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The Aspie Corner's picture

And how. Florida, for instance, won't expand medicaid because Governor Voldemort wouldn't be able to use it to enrich himself at our expense.

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Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.

Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.

snoopydawg's picture

I have access to Medicaid and other than having difficulty finding a doctor, it has been a lifesaver. I do have to get pre-authorization for the more expensive treatments or tests, but I haven't been turned down once in the 3 years I had it.

We have seen how much the republicans care about our lives
Since they are willing to pass legislation that will see many people die.

And we know what the democrats are not interested in passing it either. Jay Rockefeller tried to add an amendment to the ACA, but Baucus told him that no one else was interested in it and that there wasn't a chance to include it because it needed 60 votes. IIRC, the ACA was passed using reconciliation which only needed 50 votes, which at one time they had.

If they had passed a good bill which actually saved people $2,5000 which Obama told people that it would, then there is no doubt that the republicans would dare to repeal it.

On my local website, around 30-40% of the comments are in favor of the republicans repealing it. This is because their premiums and deductibles are so high.
However, they also think that people should have to just find a good job so they don't have to rely on social programs to survive.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

The Aspie Corner's picture

@snoopydawg Re:

However, they also think that people should have to just find a good job so they don't have to rely on social programs to survive.

1. There are no 'good' jobs left. Big business and the people they bribe in government saw to that.

2. Most people on social programs have trouble finding, let alone keeping work due to disabilities.

Seriously, do these assholes ever consider that?

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Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.

Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.

riverlover's picture

@The Aspie Corner They just don't care. Is there something in the water in DC? Too many lobbyist lunches?

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

case, the US has refused for decades to see the reality.

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Outsourcing Is Treason's picture

@LaFeminista single payer healthcare. Shame on us.

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"Please clap." -- Jeb Bush

they're still talking about "insurance" and comparing Medicaid to workplace safety and environmental regs rather than private insurance or the ACA like they should. Plus their numbers sound like (even though I'm sure they aren't) they were pulled out of some activist's ass. (actually they were pulled out of some industry shill's ass. "cost of workplace safety regulations" - sez who?)

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On to Biden since 1973