Comments on: On Michael Moore’s Sicko http://policywise.net/2007/06/25/on-michael-moores-sicko/ Policy Matters Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:34:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Rohit http://policywise.net/2007/06/25/on-michael-moores-sicko/#comment-671 Rohit Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:20:03 +0000 http://www.policywise.net/2007/06/25/on-michael-moores-sicko/#comment-671 Damon, Of course, but preventive care is simply not as sexy as clinical care. And this is equally true for politicians, doctors and even patients. Damon,

Of course, but preventive care is simply not as sexy as clinical care. And this is equally true for politicians, doctors and even patients.

]]> By: Damon http://policywise.net/2007/06/25/on-michael-moores-sicko/#comment-660 Damon Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:47:14 +0000 http://www.policywise.net/2007/06/25/on-michael-moores-sicko/#comment-660 I believe the market failures Sicko addresses are not due to a failed government system but to an epidemic of unhealthy lifestyles that cannot be supported economically. Preventable illness comprises 80% of the burden of illness and 90% of all healthcare costs. Preventable illnesses account for eight of the nine leading categories of death. No medicine, surgery or treatment can reverse the damage caused by a lifetime of smoking, poor eating and lack of exercise. By simply increasing treatment that buys time, ignores the inevitable need to align patient's economic incentives toward healthy living. This is the innovation needed in the economic system of health care, not just more health care. I believe the market failures Sicko addresses are not due to a failed government system but to an epidemic of unhealthy lifestyles that cannot be supported economically. Preventable illness comprises 80% of the burden of illness and 90% of all healthcare costs. Preventable illnesses account for eight of the nine leading categories of death. No medicine, surgery or treatment can reverse the damage caused by a lifetime of smoking, poor eating and lack of exercise. By simply increasing treatment that buys time, ignores the inevitable need to align patient’s economic incentives toward healthy living. This is the innovation needed in the economic system of health care, not just more health care.

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