Health Care again!

[cowman]

There are rumblings that Kleins latest healthcare scheme might violate the Canada Health Act? If that is so the implication is that Ottawa might cut off their portion of funding? I think that portion is around 10% or $700,000? I believe Ralph claims this is going to save Alberta about $1 billion?
So how much of a no brainer is it to tell Ottawa to keep their pennies, the cheapskates?
At the same time why not tell them "hey guess what? From now on we'll collect the taxes and send you what we feel we should instead of letting you decide how much we can keep?" Just like Quebec does right now?
Ralph can buffalo them on this one if he wants to!

[ivbinconned]

I think he lost a lot of credibility with his performance in the legislature yesterday.
I would suspect that the Liberal opposition has some valid suggestions that he could look at regarding health care vs throwing a tantrum.

I think Harper is going to get a lot of heat from other premiers to ensure that Alberta is not allowed to violate the Canada Health Act.

[Horse]

Cowman spoken like a real tory dont know any of the details or even the overall gest of the bill but by god I support it.

[Horse]

I question the wisdom of picking a fight with several provinces and the federal government before the public has been provided opportunity for input into the proposed legislation. Let Albertan's decide if they agree with the proposal before tabling it in the house and preparing to take on the rest of the country !!!

[wilagro]

cowman: How in hell can you support Ralphie when the 'secret' plan has not been revealed yet? Judging from past bills that this gov't attempts to fool people with, this one will undoubtedly stir up a hornet's nest of protest.
Ralph has a lot riding on this bill as BIG business interests see a pile of gold for the grabbing.

[wilagro]

I hope everyone takes advantage of filling out any questionaire that is on the government website.
IF we don't take advantage of the public consultation process we better not complain afterward.

[blackjack]

...i guess i don't get it ...alberta puts more money into health care other than maybe bc ... the system justs soaks it up and you guys want it to continue ... when is society going to take responsibility for themselves and learn to maybe...just maybe to learn that there never will be a system with enough money to cure every ache and pain...if ralph can make the system a little more viable ...go for it ...

[wilagro]

Yes, and for every Health Authority, we have some very pricey people to pay to run same. The Communications Director (propaganda director) gets paid almost $80,000 per annum plus percs bringing the total to around $100,000 /-. This is for a job that any regular secretary could do for less money.

All of these boards are on the internet...check them out to see where your money is going. The money is NOT going for patient services such as MEALS, I can vouch for that. While in hospital for 4 days, I lost 16 pounds.

In the olden days when hospitals were controlled by local ELECTED officials they were run more efficiently than they are now. There were also more beds allocated per capita than now and we could afford it then. What has happened? Most of the problems developed AFTER the PCs came to power. Coincidence perhaps?

[cowman]

I guess I sort of buy into the argument Dave Rutherford says? We all know health care isn't working and isn't sustainable in its present form? The Liberals and NDP have only proposed one solution...spend more money! And that cannot work? You can't just keep pounding money down a black hole?
Yes, Alberta has a huge surplus, and Klein could just go with the flow and spend more, but is that what we want? What happens if suddenly the money dries up? Do you really want to spend more on social programs...or do you want to fix the problem?
Now I don't know if Klein has the solution here, but he claims it will save the taxpayer money, and that is more than the other two parties are proposing?
As far as Ralphs little tantrum...well what can you say? That's just Ralph! He sometimes does dumb things!
Personally I think it makes him look like a human being instead of a robot like Kevin Taft! I guess none of us have never got mad or something and lost it? I like to see some emotion in my politicians...at least you know they are alive!

[cowman]

cowman, I can't believe that you would condone the actions of the premier. He showed absolutely now statesmanship at all, his tantrum would have been on national television and on every front page had the Leg cameras been on him during his tirade.
Health care spending is out of control but as Wilgro says the Health Regions are a joke. They were set up under the current government and the increased cost to deliver health care is largely due to the huge budgets they have for numerous administration staff, large boards that must be paid expenses to travel throughout the regions etc.
The Board member from my area drives between 400-500 kms for Board and committee meetings, and is paid a daily honoraria plus milage as are all board members across the province.
The local hospital boards used to meet monthly, have dinner brought in to the meeting and the cost was likely less than the cost of travel for one board member today.

Changes need to happen in health care but if the premier is serious about it dissolving the health regions and getting back to controlling health care at the local level would be a start. Regionalization, deregulation etc. has not worked and the premier needs to face that fact and backtrack if necessary but that will never happen.

If throwing tantrums shows a human side, then so does using self control and courtesy. Throwing things at a 17 year old kid isn't exhibiting leadership in my view. If a CEO of any business threw something at an employee I am sure there would be consequences !!!

[Horse]

Throwing things is asult I wonder if Ralph thinks back to Pie and I wonder if he will face procution.
We all know the system costs to much but how does letting someone in ahead of everyone else make it cheaper sure he pays out of pocket but it is still a cost so why now mabey put a small user fee on such things as hips and knees and all elective surgery .
All ralphs plan from what I know is if you are a rich SOB you can make an apointment and go to the front of the line ,sure it shortened the line but you end up pushed back so what did you gain.
I think it is time for Raloh and his party to disapeer for a few yrs and see what someone else can do.

[Horse]

There are already horror stories in the health care system as evidenced by the death of the elderly gentleman from bed sores that went septic for God sake.
That sort of thing happened before disenfectant was discovered !!!!! And this is the 21st Century in the richest province in the country !!!

[cowman]

Well I think the idea is if they allowed a private system to operate alongside the public system then entrepreneurs would build the clinics? In other words we'd have more capacity without the taxpayer building and maintaining the infra structure?
I guess it all comes down to whether you think private enterprize can operate more efficiently than the public sector?
A classic example might be vehicle licensing? Do you remember how it was before privatization? The long lineups, the poor service? Now its a quick trip to one of several "one stop" licensing services! Yes you have to pay a small fee, but you are in and out in a short time!
In Quebec there are a lot of private clinics for these minor surgeries. They do not charge an extra fee. But they are obviously making money? The trick is: instead of doing the procedure in an over priced hospital with expensive help they do it in a more simple setting...thereby doing it cheaper! I suppose the province could build its own clinics and run them more cheaply, but that isn't going to happen? The government cannot be as efficient as the guy who is trying to make a dollar...just doesn't happen?
I do realize the health boards are too expensive. This is what happens with all public systems? The beuracracy tends to grow and get fat? Better to have someone needing to turn a profit at the helm? There is nothing as efficient as the marketplace!

[cowman]

Cowman, my understanding is that doctors are not allowed to work in both the private and public system in Quebec.

At one point there was consideration given to allowing a private clinic to operate in a portion of the Leduc hospital and that was quickly shot down.

I would like to see what all parties propose regarding health care and who knows, perhaps there could be a good mix of ideas put to use.

[blackjack]

...you know what the sad part is...even the health minister's themselves don't have a clue how much alot of the procedures cost... when the politicians get the gonads to make the bureaucracy release the costs...then maybe we can have something to go by...frankly i find it quite pathetic you guys want to tax your grand children to death to save a system that is nothing more than a big blackhole...