Let's clarify your disagreement, however. Your disagreement is with the idea that the provider side should be private. I'd prefer keeping it mostly private, but that does not change the fact that what the board Nazi is proposing will be a disaster for the country. If someone is faced with a choice between putting food on the table and paying for a colonoscopy, we all know what will happen. His proposal would force people, especially low income people, to forego preventative care, leading to a rise in chronic illness, a rise in costs, and worse outcomes. It's laughable in it's simplistic foundation. It makes no sense, but of course everyone involved in the for profit healthcare business would love it.
Medicare sets the rate of payment to providers. The problem is that Congress always blows through those. Sometimes with good reason, but mostly because the are on the payroll. If we have a system in which the government sets the payment schedule, it will shift the burden of compensating doctors where it belongs. That additional care you mentioned will be MUCH more expensive, but rich people WILL pay it.
