First, Grove is right about the impact of clinics; however, everyone needs to understand that the proliferation of clinics is NOT just about private, for-profit clinics in Wal-Marts. Employer-sponsored clinics, in both the public and private sector are growing fast. Add to those the traditional public health clinics and the “network” is sending out tendrils all over. Simply, they work. Times change. Appointments with physicians cost more, take longer and, in days when office-visit co-pays are being replaced with deductibles (and NOT your grandma’s deductible of $50; more like $1,000 or more), there is the uncertaintly of not knowing how much it is going to cost YOU, the patient. Most of these clinics have relatively low POSTED prices and, in the case of employer-sponsored clinics, are FREE.

As to EMR, the learning curve for the providers is as big a draw-back as the cost. Never assume that physicians are either smart OR that they are open-minded about new technology. Most of the technical stuff in their offices is operated by relatively low-paid techies hired for the purpose and their office record-keeping is operated by clerical folks. The easier the better.

Thirdly, as to the First Amendment, it’s worked for going on 250 years. During every one of those years, a national plebiscite on whether or not we should establish the Bill of Rights would have LOST. That’s why we need it.

DEW

I am a former Intel employee that went to work in Saudi Arabia where medical care is free.
I discoverd that unless there is some minimum fee or co-payment a free system can be abused by those just wanting attention or visiting a hospital with a common cold when aspirin and orange juice will do.

I commend Andy Grove for his efforts on behalf of the uninsured and underinsured when he could just sit back and rest on his laurels. I hope that with his efforts and those of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Michael J. Fox some of these diseases can be cured and the suffering alleviated for all afflicted.

RLG