Perhaps there needs to be some distinction between
medical professionals (e.g. doctors) and the
organisations / administrations that runs the hospitals in which they operate (and who will have more of a profit focus).
In NYC, there were certainly claims earlier this year that:
- the numbers of emergency beds and respirators in some privatised hospitals have continued to be run down in past years (in the name of "efficiency" i.e. cost savings)
https://www.greanvillepost.com/2020/...s-ventilators/
- it was possible for hospital administration to claim varying amounts for "Covid patients", according to the treatment (e.g. respirator used) and the reimbursing entity (e.g. Medicare)
https://www.globalresearch.ca/hospit...avirus/5709720
In the latter case, the senator is both a doctor and a Republican senator. [ I'm deliberately ignoring that the video clip was a Fox News interview ]
So while doctors involved with treating patients might (rightfully) get up in arms due to being branded as "gougers", perhaps the
organisations / administrations running those hospitals may well be willing to take advantage of opportunities for higher reimbursement.
And given the level of "gouging" being performed by US pharmaceutical companies in the past few years for even basic medicines (e.g. insulin), I'd be quite surprised if some US hospital organisations - operating in this neoliberal world - were not doing so (to ensure ongoing profitability as well as to cover operating costs).
https://www.greanvillepost.com/2019/...nt-fix-itself/
Bookmarks