This article makes me mad on so many levels.
For starters, their estimates are based on a guess of a guess of a guess - they quote a working paper that quotes an estimate that's based on unicorn farts and Keynesean circlejerking. But sure. Pull numbers out of your ass and pretend they're the downfall of Apple Pie. I mean, Medicaid is our 3rd-highest payer but what the fuck do I know I've only seen prices for twelve insurers at ten different facilities.
For another thing, hospitals are a stupid place to get your healthcare. Were you hit by a car? Best go to a hospital. Do you have an earache? Shit, mutherfucker I can walk to two different urgent cares and I live in the 'burbs. But you know what?
Hospital conglomerates are eating the world and it sucks for everyone.
You know who deserves to lose billions? Fuckin' hospital conglomerates. You know who those billions will go to? The people paying for medicare. That exact same working paper? Says that healthcare expenditures will go down 300 fucking billion dollars under M4A.
But fuckin' hell the sky is falling.