So, let’s see, increasing insurance costs, a lack of new hospital development by the private sector, an inability by the public sector to build or improve health facilities without increased taxes via bonds (as the CEO of a public healthcare district, this is firsthand knowledge), overflowing emergency rooms, what more can I add?
Is government responsible for any of this? Let’s just touch on a couple of mandates…
Government mandates on nurse staffing ratios: Instead of a look at how individual hospitals fare in the provision of quality health care, based on an individual facility’s number of nurses needed for a select number of patients, let’s instead mandate a "one size fits all" ratio of patients per nurses based on the lowest common denominator…the worst providers of service. Oh, we already did that.
Result: Higher costs to provide a mandated number of employees in every unit, on every floor, in every hospital, regardless of the benefit or measurable outcome.
Government mandates for seismic retrofit of facilities: Yes, we all want our hospitals to stand up in an earthquake. And, what of the closure of hospital facilities if they can’t afford to complete seismic compliance issues by a mandated time certain? Apparently, the choice is safer, sound hospitals in the event of the big one, or closed hospitals. Which providers can afford to cover the associated costs? Those which bring in money from hiked insurance rates, fees for service, or bonds.
Result: Higher costs, while at the same time the deadline for completing retrofits keeps getting moved out by the legislature, based on an unwillingness to allow the closure of hospitals. Oops, that one’s also a catch 22, or putting safety second to closures. Some might call it hypocrisy.
The list can be much longer than this, but it is essential to know for all of us that the answer to a lack of affordable, accessible, quality health care coverage is more government involvement and more mandates on business in general and providers specifically. Look how far it’s gotten us already.