Stephen Harper - Uncut

[jacee]

The role of U.S. health care providers in provincial responsibility for specific procedures like neonatal care, bariatric surgery, diagnostic imaging, etc., etc.

In a Canadian National Population Health Survey of 17,276 Canadian residents, it was reported that only 0.5% sought medical care in the US in the previous year. Of these, less than a quarter had traveled to the U.S. expressly to get that care. [71]

A 2002 study by Katz, Cardiff, et al., reported the number of Canadians using U.S. services to be "barely detectible relative to the use of care by Canadians at home" and that the results "do not support the widespread perception that Canadian residents seek care extensively in the United States." [72]

Phantoms In The Snow: Canadians Use Of Health Care Services In The United States

So ... about .01% of Canadians use US health services each year, about 3,400 people.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Canada

Many US citizens purchase prescription drugs from Canada, either over the Internet or by traveling there to buy them in person, because prescription drug prices in Canada are substantially lower than prescription drug prices in the United States; this cross-border purchasing has been estimated at $1 billion annually.

Six of one, half dozen of the other perhaps?

Edited May 20, 2013 by jacee

[bush_cheney2004]

....Six of one, half dozen of the other perhaps?

Perhaps...but more likely what has happened is that the squeeze on federal funding to the provinces has led to more U.S. provider contracts and Canadian patients who never intended to go to the "states". This is on top of well heeled Canucks who don't even bother wasting their time waiting in line. In some cases, the provinces just don't have the facilities, medical staff, or both to deliver needed care in a timely manner. "Triage principles" get tricky for hospitals already burdened with long term care, blocked beds, and rising union costs.

It is cheaper in the short term to spend dollars on excess U.S. capacity than to actually build and staff requisite facilities. See Jeffery Simpson's new book > Chronic Condition.

As for the American pharma purchases in Canada, in many cases the U.S. market has already paid for the R&D anyway.

Edited May 20, 2013 by bush_cheney2004

[Bonam]

Having listened to most of Harper's droning, what strikes me most is how absolutely uninspiring the man is. He talks like an administrator, not a leader.

Sounds like a good thing to me. Maybe some people want a charismatic shell that can give fiery speeches as a leader, I'd rather look for someone who is more interested in (and capable of) getting the work of governance done and done well. Political speeches and promises are hollow lies, every politician is a liar through to the deepest marrow of their bones. What matters isn't what they say, or how they say it, but what they do.

[jacee]

It is cheaper in the short term to spend dollars on excess U.S. capacity than to actually build and staff requisite facilities.

And in some emergencies, hospitals across the border are simply closer than another province.

3,400 patients a year is not exactly a huge flood.

[jbg]

And in some emergencies, hospitals across the border are simply closer than another province.

3,400 patients a year is not exactly a huge flood.

Where? Maybe in southern Manitoba. Or parts of New Brunswick? Otherwise there are few populated areas of the U.S. adjoining sparsely populated parts of Canada.

[Keepitsimple]

Kis can you make an point without a personal attack?

This board is meant to debate based on facts - and when someone simply makes things up, they deserve to be accused of either lying, shilling or being a bonehead. Stick to the facts, make your argument and state your opinion based on those facts - and you won`t get ``attacked``.

[bush_cheney2004]

And in some emergencies, hospitals across the border are simply closer than another province.

3,400 patients a year is not exactly a huge flood.

The numbers may be "relatively" small, but when coupled with wait time rationing, it is easy to see how the provinces are struggling to meet demand for health care services with existing budgets (public financing). U.S. providers are used to meet 'peak demand', like a power company that buys electricity instead of building the excess generating capacity. Hospital beds are blocked and locked, "non emergency" procedures are stretched out to months and years, and the unions keep the pressure on.

[jacee]

This board is meant to debate based on facts - and when someone simply makes things up, they deserve to be accused of either lying, shilling or being a bonehead. Stick to the facts, make your argument and state your opinion based on those facts - and you won`t get ``attacked``.

Not really.

I'm not responsible for your emotional overreaction to information: You are responsible to comply with forum rules.

Forum rules

NO PERSONAL ATTACKS

Please respect others by refraining from personal attacks. There is a huge difference between disagreeing with a thought or idea and attacking an individual. We encourage lively debate and intelligent critiques of others viewpoints, not tirades against another poster.

INSULTS

Insults are the ammunition of the unintelligent - do not use them.

IOW, attack the post, not the poster.

If it's necessary to discuss this further, I suggest you start a thread on the topic rather further derail this one with inappropriate personal attacks.

[Moonbox]

He didn't derail the thread. Your tried to with you exaggerated sense of indignation. As far as personal attacks go, asking you if you're lying or just boneheaded is about as tame as it gets, especially when he followed it up with a direct question to you related to the topic and then a further clarification of his position, all of which you chose to ignore in favour of calling him out for his "outrageous" personal attack, and reposting forum rules. At least he was still trying to have a topic-related argument.

Did you have a response for his main point, that health care is a provincial responsibility, or not?

Edited May 22, 2013 by Moonbox