"It's not Socialism if Government doesn't write the Dr's paycheck?!"

I heard on NPR today the latest in a very long list of novel ways of clouding the Health Care Reform picture.  Apparently, many on the left are now saying that "It's not socialism if the Government doesn't directly write a check to the doctor."  I am not kidding -- this is almost a verbatim quote.  

I am left just shaking my head.  What is there to say except "WHAT???"  But I have to say something because otherwise there are folks who will start repeating this claim as "fact."  But it is fantasy, folks, and not very credible fantasy at that.

Health insurance is a middleman between the doctor and his/her payment for services.  Either you pay the doctor directly when you go for an office visit, or they bill your insurance company for payment. Either way, you pay, either for the insurance that pays the doctor, or to the doctor directly.

Or, if the government funds the health insurance with taxpayer dollars, then either way, the government pays, either indirectly through insurance, or directly to the doctor.

I do not get where the confusion is.  And I don't get what people who say such things are thinking:  where do they think the money the government spends on absolutely anything and everything, including Medicaid and "universal health care," comes from in the first place?  Oh, that's right, the money tree!!!