Market-driven changes in health care habits? The Manitowoc Herald Times illustrates some positive, low-cost, freedom-enhancing changes already underway:
Retailers are getting into the game, offering clinics and other more direct services. Wal-Mart recently announced it will offer clinics in as many as 2,000 of its stores. Walgreens and CVS Pharmacies have purchased national retail clinic chains.
In many markets, a mom who has a child with an ear infection can walk into a retail location and see a nurse practitioner without an appointment. They can get a diagnosis and leave with an eardrop prescription in as little as 15 minutes. They pay for this visit by credit card, generally for under $50, and often at their own expense. Convenience is an important benefit to consumers and one they are willing to pay for.
The Leede Research Group has seen consumer trends that are contributing to the rate of change and the change itself. Its health care studies have shown that those under 35 years of age show stark differences in their usage patterns for health services. They tend to use walk-in facilities more often, even though they have physician relationships and believe they could see their doctor the same day if needed. They also show less loyalty to their physicians and provider networks and show more cross usage.
I'll take this kind of change over a bloated, costly, freedom-robbing socialized health care "solution" any day.
HT to the National Center for Policy Analysis.
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