[VRM]

Businesses respond to profit incentives. Health care is expensive partly because the processes are not efficient. I changed health plans a few years ago and was in the middle of getting some bone spurs removed; my new PCP wanted to see me (had to wait another 4 weeks) and take new x-rays (he said the originals were inconclusive) before he would authorise the HMO to allow me to go to the same specialist I had already seen.
Governments job is to regulate the incentives and punishments for an industry, not set up shop themselves.

It is also unfortunate in our society that money is the only thing that really provides an incentive - 'doing the right thing' really does not.

Steve