[ExI] Tools for improving health care in the USA, now

[Max More]

I recommend Bailey's article in full...
Markets, Not Mandates
http://www.reason.com/news/show/135081.html

...but I especially wanted to quote two paragraphs and the included 
links to useful resources for improving your health care (if you live 
in the USA), without having to wait for reforms:

>Competition would also transform the medical information market, 
>making it radically transparent.
<http://finance.senate.gov/healthsummit2008/Statements/Regina%20Herzlinger%20Testimony%20_pages%20227-246.pdf>

>In fact, baby steps toward transparency have already begun. Angie's List
<http://www.angieslist.com/AngiesList/myangie/>

>now allows consumers to submit reports about their experiences with 
>physicians. Sources of information for medical comparison shopping 
>would proliferate, just as there are now dozens of publications 
>devoted to comparing the features and prices of cars, computers, 
>guns, and vacations. A core of savvy shoppers in the medical market 
>will mean better price and quality comparisons for everyone.
>
>Wondering what shopping in a competitive medical market might be 
>like? Check out the admittedly clunky California government's common 
>surgeries and cost comparison website.
<http://www.oshpd.ca.gov/commonsurgery/>

>Browsing reveals that the cost for heart valve replacement varies 
>from $72,000 to $368,000, and the cost for angioplasty varies from 
>$9,000 to $204,000. Other websites, such New Choice Health,
http://www.newchoicehealth.com/Home>

>enable consumers to go shopping for relatively routine procedures 
>like colonoscopies, laparoscopic hernia repair, and MRI scans. 
>Prices for colonoscopies in Washington, DC, for instance, vary from 
>$580 to $1,386, hernia repair from $974 to $2,519, and abdominal 
>MRIs from $936 to $1,960.



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Max More, Ph.D.
Strategic Philosopher
Extropy Institute Founder
www.maxmore.com
max at maxmore.com
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