Dallas sees no relief in health care expenses as competition drives up costs

September 20, 2009, The Dallas Morning News

Medical care in Dallas is delivered in a broken market where doctors, hospitals and other providers shower patients with services of diminishing value but staggering cost.

The spending is rooted in the city's proud entrepreneurial culture. Dallas is home to many competing hospital systems and physician practices. But this competition raises costs rather than lowering them, because it rewards those who do more procedures and tests and offers no incentive to spend less.

Scott & White Healthcare in Temple, by contrast, dominates medical delivery in Central Texas yet provides care for far less money. "Logically, the more competition, the lower the price. It doesn't work that way in health care," said Scott & White president and CEO Alfred Knight. "Competition increases the price."....

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if you're into the United Nations and its history, in itself, this is no small thing, no matter what the topic.

To me it's refreshing to see a president actually use the U.N. (outside rhetoricals on its assembly podium,) rather than treat it as a pain in the butt.

I am expecting an uptick in the foreseeable future in ye olde conspiracy theories about one world orders and black helicopters and such.  It's possible some of those left out of the "G-20" will be joining federalist wingers on that front this time.