Hello, fellow medical students, physicians and BRI friends!
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December 27, 2016 |
My name is Joshua Blackwell. I am a medical student and vice president of the BRI chapter at UAB School of Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama.
On October 3rd, I had the distinguished opportunity to attend a half-day conference,
From Innovation to Insurance: The State of American Health Care Policy, hosted by the Mercatus Center. This was a highly beneficial experience. Before the meeting, I had a general understanding of the nature of the Affordable Care Act; namely, that its regulations on the insurance market had led directly to the spike in premiums that began in the aftermath of its passage.
The specific nuances of the law's effects, however, were somewhat of a mystery.
Having the opportunity to hear from fellows at the Mercatus Center--including Jared Rhoads, BRI alumnus leader from Dartmouth--provided me with an improved depth of understanding of how the ACA has affected various aspects of the healthcare market. In addition, I was exposed to several efforts to increase the freedom of the healthcare market at the state level, including permission-less innovation and the repeal of Certificate of Need laws.
To observe these discussions was both enlightening and encouraging, as it gave me hope for the future. In today's healthcare climate, it is pivotal that budding medical students and physicians receive exposure to the concepts of economic freedom and permission-less innovation.
Sadly, fewer and fewer members of the healthcare community advocate for such critical liberties. Since attending this session, I have felt empowered to speak out on issues affecting healthcare policy. I am currently taking a class on Healthcare Systems, and the questions and ideas I pose are often met with looks of intrigue. I have had friendly discussions with several of the left-leaning students in my class, who are often perplexed by the free market's ability to provide quality care for those who are less fortunate. I am grateful for the knowledge that I acquired at the Mercatus Center meeting, and I am excited about the friendly discussions that are yet to come.
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