Profiteering, Corruption and Fraud in U.S. Health Care

Book excerpt: Profiteering, corruption and fraud are emblematic of our profit-driven, corporatized marketplace and so-called health care system. The three bleed into each other in an entangled way, and they are even increasing. We have to ask and answer: who is the health care system for- profits for health care corporations, their shareholders, and Wall Street traders and investors? for the corrupt and fraudulent scammers? or for patients, their families, and taxpayers? The urgent need for health care reform is at an all-time high as the U. S. struggles to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and the recession certain to follow. We are far behind other advanced nations with one or another system of universal coverage. Incremental attempts to reform U. S. health care have failed for many years. Our broken system is no longer affordable for patients, families, and taxpayers. This book updates where we are with the untenable status quo and compares three major alternatives for reform-building on the ACA, the public option, and Medicare for All.