The issues in the Healthcare debate are much simpler than the government wants us to see! There are issues of cost, of insurance coverage and of the delivery system. None of these issues requires us to scrap the finest medical research and delivery system in the World and to rebuild from scratch! But that is what the administration is trying to tell us! Then, to add confusion, they want us to believe there is only one possible proposed solution, the over 1,000 page HR 3200. They ignore HR 3400 (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3400/text) submitted by Congressman, T. Price, MD (R-GA), perhaps because he is a Republican and the leaders do not recognize any Republican ideas!
Costs are driven by a number of factors including:
State mandated insurance benefits that drive up the cost of insurance
Excessive malpractice lawsuits that drive up the cost of malpractice insurance for providers and thus drive up costs for care. This includes excessive testing to protect against law suits.
Requirements that all entrants to a public hospital emergency room must be treated, including illegal immigrants. Follow on care can include excessive costs that could be avoided if the person is simply stabilized and then sent back to their own country for follow-up care.
Research into new drugs and medical procedures and equipment adds to the costs but also provides new breakthroughs that are not as prevalent elsewhere.
Small businesses are limited in their access to a variety of insurers due to their small size. They could get lower costs if they were able to be included in larger groups. Since small businesses are the major source of jobs in the US economy, especially new jobs, these costs are critical to future job growth.
None of these issues requires the dismantling of our healthcare delivery system. HR 3400 addresses a number of these cost issues without totally redesigning the healthcare delivery system and, in fact it has some built-in safeguards to protect the current system.
Another issue is the need to provide affordable insurance coverage for every American who wishes it. Congressmen Shadegg (R-AZ) and Heokstra (R-MI) have expressed a very simple answer to this in the Wall Street Journal, Friday, 9-4-09.
“The political disagreement is not whether to cover everyone, but how to do so. The president and congressional Democrats say we should create a new government-run plan, outlaw the health coverage Americans enjoy today, and let federal bureaucrats control the content and price of health plans. Their bill, H.R. 3200, is filled with more than a thousand pages of new mandates, penalties, regulations and taxes. It is nothing short of a complete takeover of the entire health-care system by Washington politicians.
We believe that all Americans deserve the ability to select health-care coverage that meets their needs—not the preferences of politicians. Republicans in Congress want to empower Americans to make their own choices by providing a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for you to purchase the plan of your choice. Those who cannot presently afford coverage would be able to select and purchase their own plan using a health-care voucher provided by the federal government.
If we give citizens the ability to control their own care, cover pre-existing conditions, and provide resources to the uninsured, we will have fixed health care in America. No bureaucrats. No new czars. No mandates. Just choice and coverage for every American.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204731804574390683768374864.html?mod=djemEditorialPage
In a report released Friday, 9-4-09, on the Bernard Madoff case it was made clear that the government couldn’t see the Ponzi scheme even though they had numerous warnings. This was released on a Friday before a holiday weekend to avoid a big news story, ahead of the debate on government taking over healthcare. They don’t want us to think of the inefficiencies of government bureaucracies. We know that bigger government is never more efficient!
“The report also offers a rare look into the inner workings of a government agency and how turf battles and poor communication hampered investigative efforts. It reveals how the SEC’s various divisions didn’t always work together and how staff often looked into tips with blinders on, failing to see the big picture or take extra steps.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125210039740087421.html?mod=djemTMB
We need to tell our elected representatives that we are not blind and “We thw People” are not fools! If they think they can force a total redesign of our healthcare system on us, against our stated wishes and without a fair and open debate of optional possibilities and we will look the other way and keep them in office, then they are the fools!
