Caring for the Poor and the Sick
Politics
| January 12, 2008
| Tim
Boston:
Mayor Thomas M. Menino embarked on a highly public campaign yesterday to block CVS Corp. and other retailers from opening medical clinics inside their stores, an effort that exposed a rift between Menino and the state's public health commissioner, a longtime ally.
After all, we wouldn't want poor voters to have inexpensive local healthcare options, would we? The TV news crews won't be able to take those nice videos of the packed emergency rooms.
Menino blasted state regulators for paving the way Wednesday for the in-store clinics, which are designed to provide treatment for sore throats, poison ivy, and other minor illnesses.
The decision by the state Public Health Council, "jeopardizes patient safety," Menino said in a written statement. "Limited service medical clinics run by merchants in for-profit corporations will seriously compromise quality of care and hygiene. Allowing retailers to make money off of sick people is wrong." ....
And allowing politicians to get votes by scaring people isn't?
Members of the Public Health Commission acknowledged many of the mayor's concerns yesterday, but they also said a solution needs to be found for patients who can't get easy access to primary-care doctors or who spend hours waiting to have routine illnesses treated in emergency rooms.
I'm sure Mayor Merino can get health care any time he needs it without having to wait for hours in an emergency room and pay hundreds of dollars out of his own pocket * -- it would be so awful if poor people could do the same.
* Or maybe not! Given his moral scruples, I'm sure the good mayor refuses to see his own doctor, given his principled belief that "mak[ing] money off of sick people is wrong." No, no lavish private physicians for him, I'm sure!
(Do as I say, not as I do, eh? The article doesn't mention his political party affiliation, but I'll give you two guesses.)
H/t Insty.
I have to say I'll be sad if he successfully blocks in store clinics. I think it is a very viable alternative to socialized medicine (which is everything that people complain about in a health insurance and worse). I'm hoping it's a viable alternative anyway. These politicians keep whining about the "health care crisis" but when the free market provides the solution they're not interested anymore.
It is interesting how he and other politicians would go out of their way to stop affordable quality medical care for the poor.
*shakes head*
I've been looking for these low-cost centers to come online where I live because I have friends I worry about who have no health insurance. I've been in the same boat, especially early in my twenties.
What kills me is that the industry complains so that the cost of healthcare is so high partially because of non-insurance covered ER care, and yet is trying to squash a very valid solution. Most people I know would be happy to pay their own way if an affordable alternative were available.
But it doesn't come from the government, the end-all-purpose-and-direction-of-mankind, so the democrats have to oppose it.
"Allowing retailers to make money off of sick people is wrong."
Well, the retailers aren't taking a government sanctioned role, and are circumventing the grand scheme laid out for health care. The private physician is a professional who complies with the health-care mandate.
Wow, if the Democrats can find out how to make life worse for the poor while making it sound good, they will.
And, for my first Random Observation Where's Waldo's Wallet:
Can you spot some of his reasons in this picture?
Tracey: What kills me is that the industry complains so that the cost of healthcare is so high partially because of non-insurance covered ER care, and yet is trying to squash a very valid solution.
At least in this report, the Mayor of Boston is doing the squashing, not industry. Do you know of another example where some business is trying to have the government shut these down? (And if so, which industry or business?)
Mike: Hah! A Wikipedia picture of Mayor Merino speaking on a podium with the name of a healthcare workers union on it! Great find!
Tracey: What kills me is that the industry complains so that the cost of healthcare is so high partially because of non-insurance covered ER care, and yet is trying to squash a very valid solution.
At least in this report, the Mayor of Boston is doing the squashing, not industry. Do you know of another example where some business is trying to have the government shut these down? (And if so, which industry or business?)
My bad...I should have worded more carefully. Should have been something along the lines of the industry complains blah blah and yet *these people* or *the mayor of boston and his union buddy* blah blah.
I should know better than to comment imprecisely on your blog even when I'm agreeing with the sentiment!
Forgive my vague generalities, please.
The comment rules will apply. Please post only once.
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I have to say I'll be sad if he successfully blocks in store clinics. I think it is a very viable alternative to socialized medicine (which is everything that people complain about in a health insurance and worse). I'm hoping it's a viable alternative anyway. These politicians keep whining about the "health care crisis" but when the free market provides the solution they're not interested anymore.
It is interesting how he and other politicians would go out of their way to stop affordable quality medical care for the poor.
Posted by: Michelle on January 12, 2008 03:48 PM