Missing elements in the healthcare debate.

Abstract

Financial flows in the U.S. healthcare system could be restructured in several ways to ensure that individuals and institutions pay their fair share: Eliminate subsidies for people with preventable illnesses and/or large families. Require not-for-profit hospitals to donate their tax exemptions to a state fund to help pay for care for the uninsured. Require health insurance companies to pay a percentage of their total premium revenue into a fund for graduate medical education. Eliminate copayments for pharmaceuticals, but require patients to pay the brand-generic cost difference if they wish to use brand-name drugs when generic drugs are available.