An idea that would be laughed at by radical Muslims as the speaker was stoned for speaking out of turn in other coutries, but i digress...
Rationing health care is a scary prospect. There are many ways this could be practiced, here are just 3 examples (extreme as they may be):
1. People requiring certain treatments or with certain diagnoses could be turned away because the allotted resources for that fiscal period had been exhausted. Either pay out of pocket or go without.
2. Disease "x" only gets treated in 3 cities; one on each coast and on in the midwest. If you don't live near the treatment center, you need to relocate, leaving everything behind (job, house, mortgage, children's education, moral/emotional support, etc.)) If you aren't willing to do that you don't get treatment or find a private hospital and pay out of pocket.
3. Look at the total expected cost for treatment including an average cost of unexpected complications. If the cost, survival curve and expected productivity after treatment don't match up favorably, don't offer treatment. This would apply to most adult cancers, congenital defects, neurologic disorders, etc.
Any takers?
