It's All About The costs in health care

Saturday, Jun 20,2009, 11:15:11 AM Click:

LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- A new study from PricewaterhouseCoopers says that employers who offer health insurance could see their costs go up 9% next year.

Yo, isn't anyone paying attention?

Doctors, insurers, hospitals, drug makers et al -- are you out there? Have you heard what's been said? If you're having trouble focusing, we understand. We're used to it.

But let us reiterate: You are the problem. You haven't even tried to be part of the solution. And you need to start.

Your very existence is threatened by whatever it is that's keeping you from pitching in -- ego, money, an arrogant presumption of entitlement -- and fixing the problem.

An Associated Press report says PricewaterhouseCoopers believes the rate of health-care cost increases has slowed a bit. It was 9.9% in 2008 and is expected to be 9.2% this year. But that's not enough. A drop of 0.2% isn't exactly making a lot of headway.

There's one bright spot. The study's authors believe progress will have to be stepped up in coming years, even though the reforms being examined now won't be enough to help in 2010.

The reason: the klieg lights will be shining brightly on health care as the Obama administration tries to enact reforms. That means everyone will be scurrying to remain in the shadows.

-- , Los Angeles bureau chief

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