Joe

The right-wing protest in Minneapolis appears to be virtually entirely counter protesters and press

Breaking: Derek Shelton is being hired as Twins manager

Mark I appreciate the dialogue. I agree that those two financial affordability questions are important. There is consensus that full price transparency is one of the fundamental first steps in correcting the system. Patients should be able to look at all medical costs the same way they view a restaurant menu with everyone getting charged the same. Doctors and nurses should be freed out from under the regulatory insurance nightmare so that they can do what they do best, treat people and save lives. For many people, they have health insurance as a “what if I get cancer or get in a car accident” scenario, and never actually use their health insurance that often, yet continue to pay crushing premiums of $2,000/mo with deductibles of $7-10,000. Then there are others who, sadly spend much of their time either themselves or with a loved one, rotating in and out of doctors appointments, treatments, or hospital stays. And that is really tough. In other words, it is tough to find a one size fits all approach that everyone in our tragically very divided country will get behind. However, I think full price transparency with a market that allows for competition, driving down costs and driving up quality of care to earn patients, seems like a first step that most people can get behind. That requires a repeal of the ACA(Obamacare), but I am told that should be more of an off ramp for a medical market build up as well as to protect many vulnerable Americans who would find themselves without insurance overnight and could leave many undergoing life saving treatments in crisis. Personally, I don’t want to see anyone in crisis, but we all are in a looming crisis right now. After 15 years this is complex and messy, but one of the most important conversations we should be having.