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Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Dr. Scott Atlas on why the quality of, and access to, health care in the U.S. is better than many perceive it to be.
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Joining us now with his reaction to today's hearings is doctor Scott at lists senior fellow with the Hoover Institute in the health care policy advisor to presidential candidate Mitt Romney and doctor Alice.
As said the high score in this -- wrangles with the issue of constitutionality.
Not even getting to it later on this we getting to it.
You say that there's a different topic at hand at that -- the foundation.
Of this proposal is based on.
I proceed slot in the health care system that you don't agree with explain where you're coming from because I think if you ask the average American.
They're not happy with the health care -- seven and this is one perceived solution.
At least we have -- solution on -- table.
-- -- first thank you for having me I think there's a disconnect between what people say about the health care system.
And what people experience in their own medical care in fact the majority the overwhelming majority of Americans are actually quite happy with their medical care that they've experienced.
And the root of that happiness is actually found in the scientific literature.
They actual pure review literature and when you go through documents as I have done in my.
Latest book you can see that the fact of the matter is that the fundamental study.
That the quality of health care was called into question and in the United States was actually a very flawed study -- very biased study by the World Health Organization.
Which has been totally discredited.
And they health economics and health policy literature the fact is that that study.
Was more concerned about equality.
In fact almost two thirds of the ranking of a 191 nations was done on the base of if there's some people got NA and some people got to be as oppose that everyone getting a B that was considered superior but secondly much.
I was I was gonna go on to say that when you look at the real facts in the literature.
The United States has the -- medical care for serious diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes.
All cancers statistically better -- -- that we -- OK very countries that are held as models for our health.
-- may be true but -- but the problem remains is that people can not get access to this better health care that and and it's it's very very expensive so.
What's -- solution here of obamacare isn't the solution trio.
Yes before I say the solution or correct what you just said the fact is that access -- in the United States is better far better -- the countries that are held as models batters and I'm.
Not more government -- have Americans doctor I mean any eight big being compared to on a low bar is not necessarily good enough for -- -- there are millions of Americans.
Tens of millions of Americans who still don't have access to health care and fight it too expensive so the point is to raise the bar here and there is a solution on the table also if you think this is not the answer what is your answer that.
Yes the answer to the cost of health care is the focus on the reforms.
That actually address the costs.
It's very clear that obamacare and the ACA act.
Does not even by the center of Medicaid Medicare services own projections and now more recently by CBO.
The fact is that that the -- the costs of health care is not addressed by the current law the -- that cost of health care should be addressed.
Is the -- it costs is addressed and every other part of the American economy every other good or services facilitate competition.
Get consumers more choice get consumers -- understanding that health care actually has cost so that they make value based.
Decisions on what they purchase rather than assume that everything is free because the way health insurance has been until now.
Much of the costs are are covered president -- -- homeowners would cover even a lightbulb going.
Got a mental level wanna jump in here -- thing that you know you you.
You work with -- governor Romney -- a lot of people are saying there's not a lot of distinction between the Romney's plan in president Obama's plan.
And into your point of things have been so great -- -- need to plan in the first place for the state of messages.
Well I want to correct the record here governor Romney has been very clear in stating that his plan as president -- did say -- is nothing like Obama's plan.
His plan is no federal mandate his plan is increasing our market based reforms so that there are more choices and more competition.
And costs come down in increasing.
-- -- changing Medicaid to block grants from states that they can actually deal with.
The inadequacies in the current inadequacies in the current system -- plan -- nothing like.
Got just thirty seconds of thought that was also and pieces that you've written about you talk about the threat of this beyond the medical industry beyond.
Health care if it's proven to be constitutional by this court.
Thirty seconds just to give us -- idea what you're trying to do that which are warning us about.
Well what -- warning about our are not just the quality of medical care going down to resemble those of Western Europe.
But also things like stifling innovation in the medical industry.
Losing jobs the high tech industry is not just for medical improvement that's also a significant source of employment and our economy.
Add the they highly trained jobs that that we seek.
And there's also a dumbing down of medical care in the United States shifting from.
The advance care that technology gives us which is the hallmark of medical care in the past fifty years of advances shifting that's -- more rolling back the clock.
General practice medicine.
And actually ultimately.
Making the career less desirable as has been shown in several recent surveys so that the best and the brightest.
That can't do anything with their lives they will not choose to go into Madison.
Doctor outlets say it looks like a year somewhere near Stanford university and an in -- hub and the hearts and this of Silicon Valley where.
Clearly a lot of people are paying attention Nissen and making the real decision and the real distinction between profitable career in the technology industry perhaps maybe.
I skipping out on a -- in the medical industry because of what could happen and what the Supreme Court decides.
Thank you for joining us today Scott -- of the Hoover institution an advisor to Mitt Romney thinks.
Thank you.
