General Discussion

--hanging on by a thread will already have closed or begun the process.

Your optimism is appreciated, but I'm already seeing what is being planned in response--even in Colorado, where 6 rural hospitals are in that latter category and all the other hospitals unable to pick up the "slack," Even those WITH health insurance better be prepared to see their premiums escalate beyond anything you imagined as a result. No, I am NOT kidding. I don't mean to be overly grim this early in the morning, but the number of patients requiring emergency care in my ER that are uninsured, underinsured or simply know the costs are going to bankrupt them and who are begging to be allowed to die has increased like never before. And when you see that it is hard NOT to be grim.

My apologies for being so frank, elleng. You don't deserve to bear the brunt of my unpleasant assessment, but it is not exaggerated.