Dive Brief:
- Two oncologists have come out in favor of a universal healthcare system financed by a single payer. The oncologists made their argument for single-payer in an article published this month in the Journal of Oncology Practice.
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Under their model of single-payer healthcare, a public agency would run a single insurance plan for each region of the United States. This agency would establish healthcare policies, manage financing, determine benefits and negotiate prices for drugs and supplies, as well as fees with providers and hospitals.
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According to the oncologists, switching to single-payer healthcare would dramatically lower overhead costs and save about $380 billion in administrative costs.
Dive Insight:
According to one of the authors, doctor Ray Derasga, "once one or two states get programs in place and see that they can save millions and millions of dollars, plus insure everybody, I think we could see a snowball effect," he told MedPage Today. It's it's hard to tell whether they are right, but the idea is fascinating. If such a change occurs the way Dr. Derasga predicts, it will be a long time coming, but it could indeed come.