The Health Care Debate the Media Missed
Last weekend I was in Vermont on vacation when I heard that Senator Bernie Sanders was hosting a town meeting on health care. On Saturday, August 15th, I grabbed my video camera and went to the afternoon meeting of an estimated 450 people in the small town of Arlington. Their voices were passionate and emotional but civil and respectful. Although it was a hot summer day, tempers simmered but never boiled over. That makes for good discussion but bad television. Absent fiery sound bites, the event flew under the radar of most media.
Two microphones were set up, one for people who support health care reform and the other for people who don't. At one mike, a diabetic iron worker who called himself a "proud blue collar guy" described what it felt like to be out of work and have no health insurance. A woman with breast cancer and no insurance told us about having to sell "everything we had worked for" to pay for her treatment. At the other mike, a woman asked "why we need a system for everyone." A man voiced his distrust of the government, saying it can't run Social Security, Medicare or the post office so why should he trust it with health care reform.
Senator Sanders listened carefully, spoke thoughtfully, and welcomed opinions on both sides of the issue. But I do think there was a moment of missed opportunity. At one point a woman, referring to the health care reform bill (H.R. 3200 [PDF]) introduced in the House of Representatives, asked Senator Sanders "Have you read the entire thing?" He admitted, "No, 'cause I'm not in the House." She then went on to read from a piece of paper, saying "Page 430, lines 11 through 15, the government will decide what level of treatment you will have at the end of your life. It IS in that bill." The Senator responded, "That is not in that bill. Sarah Palin notwithstanding, that is not in that bill." The Senator was referring to Sarah Palin's contention that the current health care reform proposals would lead to "Obama's 'death panel'" deciding who is "worthy of health care."
A more specific response from the Senator would have been more instructive to the crowd. I looked up that section and it refers to Medicare covering for the first time doctor-patient consultations about end of life planning such as drawing up a living will or planning hospice treatment. It describes "advance care planning," clearly stating (on page 424, lines 21-23) "the term 'advance care planning' means a consultation between the individual and a practitioner." It is NOT about an interaction between the individual and the government.
The fact that so few people have actually read the bill is a formula for mischief. Imagine if everybody in your English literature class -- including the teacher -- had only read the CliffsNotes of the books being discussed. Granted, the bill is 1017 pages long and is filled with cryptic language. But there are only a few sections that have led to widespread misinterpretation such as the death panel myth. Members of Congress should read the actual language of these passages rather than rely on summaries.
I left the meeting impressed by the tone of the conversation. In his closing remarks, Senator Sanders said he was proud that "we live in a state where people can have different points of view and yet we can listen to each other and we can treat each other with respect." Respectful listening by people with diametrically opposed points of view won't usually end up in the headlines but it does end up on today's episode of CBS Doc Dot Com. I look forward to your comments.
Mike Lux: The Heart of the Matter
Progressives want, as President Obama does, something to keep the insurance industry honest. If not a public option, what will accomplish that?
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As a nurse, end life planning has been around for years. This is nothing new. The Republicans have just jumped on this like it is some foreign thing they know nothing about. I am sure that probably 95% of politicains have a living will and understand the purpose of it. Most of them are lawyers and should have complete understanding of a living will and the importance of it both legally and ethically for hospital staff, family members and most of all the patient's wishes. All a living will does is remove all confusion as to how the patient wishes to have their medical care performed and how much treatment they want. A living will actually protects the patient and helps relieve the burden of end of life issues for the family. Everyone should have a living will if they are at all concerned about their healthcare.
Shame on politicians, who I am sure know the true intent of a living will, for fear mongering and getting people scared to death just to keep the failing healthcare system the way it is so they can continue to receive all the lobbying money from big insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
To Bill Hodges,
I have a living will. My primary care doctor at my VA hospital helped me with it. I also did my own research. I am completely satisfied with the VA program on end of life decision making. Your comments are incorrect.
To Dr.Jon LaPook,
Thank you for taking the time to write this well-written article.
To Senator Bernie Sanders,
Thank you for being a caring, intelligent and hard working US Senator. If I lived in Vermont, I would vote for you.
To Huffpost readers,
Don't listen to those media fools who get their kicks from causing dissension with lies and misinformation. Do your own research.
Jxjason,
Are you referring to the lies Sarah Palin makes every single day on "death panels' and other unintelligent remarks from her?. It's not the media we need to be worried about, it's people like her, Glenn Beck, Limbaugh and others that concens me the most.
The Death Book for Veterans
Ex-soldiers don't need to be told they're a burden to society.
By JIM TOWEY
If President Obama wants to better understand why America's discomfort with end-of-life discussions threatens to derail his health-care reform, he might begin with his own Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He will quickly discover how government bureaucrats are greasing the slippery slope that can start with cost containment but quickly become a systematic denial of care.
Last year, bureaucrats at the VA's National Center for Ethics in Health Care advocated a 52-page end-of-life planning document, "Your Life, Your Choices." It was first published in 1997 and later promoted as the VA's preferred living will throughout its vast network of hospitals and nursing homes. After the Bush White House took a look at how this document was treating complex health and moral issues, the VA suspended its use. Unfortunately, under President Obama, the VA has now resuscitated "Your Life, Your Choices."
Who is the primary author of this workbook? Dr. Robert Pearlman, chief of ethics evaluation for the center, a man who in 1996 advocated for physician-assisted suicide in Vacco v. Quill before the U.S. Supreme Court and is known for his support of health-care rationing.
I don't see what's so frightening about planning. Your scary book is here:
http://www
See for yourself how frightening a workbook with exercises to help you plan can be!
I disagree totally with you on this issue. End of life planning is the best and surest way to make certain YOU have the say about what happens to YOU when and if you can no longer make your own decisions. It's that simple. Why would anyone not want to do that, unless you WANT other people/com
And as for assisted suicide, I for one would like to have that option if it ever gets that bad. So would a lot of other people. What's the problem, as long as you're making your own decisions?
And you work for WHICH med care CORPORATIONS? ?
They make bizillions $$$$$$$$$$
"health care" to people at the end of their life who do not wish to drag out
their pain, misery and expenses for no good reason.
Currently CORPORATIONS are spending billions to push their
DEATH-SCARE phony-baloney!
Corporations care about the health of their BOTTOM LINE.
Not about wellness, prevention, appropriate care at end of life.
People die. That's A FACT. And they should have the right to
know their options and make plans for that.
What, are YOU PLANNING TO LIVE FOREVER? Hahaha.
Here is what we are really fighting against:
http://sem
Excellent story on this link. I listened to President Obama talk on his ideas for health care reform and President Obama said "I support a public option".
Everyone who cannot afford their own health insurance plan should support a public option.
I have access to the Veterans Administration Health Care System. The VA system is excellent. I get low cost, generic drugs for $8.00 for a 30 day supply. I also buy drugs at Walmart when the prices are lower.
My partner, however, has no health insurance because she cannot afford to pay $5,000.00 a year for it. She is also too young for Medicare. She supports the public option too.
Congressman Dennis Kucinich has 90 members of the House who signed on to his bill HR676. Dennis would like to see Medicare for all.
I have a feeling that this type of town hall meeting was more the norm this August than the ones shown on TV.
Sanders is my hero on the health care issue. And as he believes, health care should not be a for profit insurance issue. To me, that is the center of the debate: those who feel the market and ability to pay should determine a human being's right to medical care, and those who feel it is a moral issue. I happen to feel a human being is not a commodity, therefore I believe it is a moral issue, as do most enlightened countries.
As an avid CSPAN watcher, and as that program has focused much on the debate, both sides of it, I was amazed again by a Rep. caller who compared health insurance to car insurance. I miss the point, free marketers. You compare a human being to a car. Perhaps that sums up the US value system. And some call this a "religious" country. The only religion that prevails in this country is the religion of profit.
When it comes to the end of my life, I would like to be able to tell my doctors what I want them to do. I do not want my children to have to make that decision. I am not worried about the government stepping in, and people that think this would happen, are just plain stupid. I just got off the phone with a customer service representative from a hospital to set up payments on a bill that my insurance refuses to pay. I am so sick and tired of people standing up and saying that they have great insurance but then say that they have $5000 deductibles or that they pay $800 a month for premiums are simply not lower or middle income folks. We dont need to hear from these people at all. I pay over $3400 above and beyond my premium and it is killing me. Most well to do people think this is a drop in the bucket and dont want anything changed. I want something similiar to medicare. These insurance companies will not do anything for the people if they dont have something like a public option to compete with. Co-ops are just another word for private insurance, but they will not be able to compete with the big insurance companies and will sell out once they start losing money.
The entire health care reform "debate" can be reduced to one fact:
In a country that wants to call itself civilized, health care should not be the vehicle with which to make obscene profits.
For those who voice their concern about the cost of a universal health care system I have a few questions:
Are you aware of the fact that today, as we speak, the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries spend a combined total of approximately one half trillion dollars a year in advertising and promotion(goodies to doctors, politicians), lobbying (read: bribes), executive bonusses and perks.
Are you aware that the pharmaceutical industry spends more on the above items than on manufacturing and distribution of their products, and research for new ones.
Are you aware that of every dollar in premiums collected by the health insurance industry, less than 40 cents are used to provide health care and medication to the insured?
Once people realize these facts, it should become crystal clear why these two industries will stop at nothing to assure that this gravy train keeps on running. Once more it is proven that where such huge amounts of money are involved, human lives mean nothing.
NOSMAVAN
A Katie Couric stooge playing the role of a doctor. My lord liberals will stoop to any level. Public option is no option that will save americans money, especially those who already pay taxes.
I have seen another town hall where a woman claimed to be a doctor but was not even in the medical field. She was claiming her support for the Government option and one payer plan. Guess if you can't win on facts and truth go to out tight lies.
The only stooge I see is you. Healthcare for profit is death care, disease care and basically no care at all for 1/6 of the american population AND the sixth of the economy that YOU already pay for because others cannot. Conservatives have outsourced the whole government, and sold you down the river. The ultimate goal of conservatives is to roll back medicare and social security, but they were okay with hiring mercenaries to kill iraqi and afghan civilians, the logic is baffling to me, but I'm just a wacky librul that thinks we should take care of our own. This is not family values I can believe in.
Okay, so you are for the repeal of Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, the VA Medical System, and all those other government supported organizations that are supported by taxes, right? Then, turn in your Medicare card when the time comes.
Okay, so you are for the re.peal of Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, the VA Medical System, and all those other government supported organizations that are supported by taxes, right? Please, turn in your Medicare card when the time comes.
I suppose you want the re.peal of Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and all those other government supported organizations that are supported by taxes, right? Please, turn in your Medicare card when the time comes.
"The Health Care Debate the Media Missed" -- wouldn't that be Single-Payer?
Given that Bernie Sanders is the author of S 703 for Single-Payer health care, it's awfully hard for me to believe that S 703 was not discussed at the meeting. But, no surprise that CBS avoids mentioning it.
** SINGLE PAYER NOW!! **
I love Sanders, the only socialist in congress. God bless him, but anyone defending the tangled mess of health care reform going through the two houses is going to end up tongue tied and twisted. Very simple, everybody who wants to can get on Medicade and pays a progressive tax. In short time the medical insurance companies will be looking for supplemental products at reasonable prices and a ton of insurance people can go to work for the government.
I want to move to Vermont...
They've had a state health care plan that covers everyone for many years--but they had a physician for a Governor.
Really, why hasn't someone else been talking about their government care if they have such a thing? Do they really?
I'm with you!!!!
The media -- yes, even the LIBERAL media -- has missed the big story in the health care debate.
Remember after 9/11 how every news organization would spend a few minutes in each newscast to profile victims of the World Trade Center disaster? Or how Anderson Cooper would profile one of our fallen soldiers each night on 360?
Why isn't the media today profiling individuals who have been victimized by the insurance companies? It is an outrage that the media is completely ignoring this story. It is *THE* central issue in the health care debate.
We hear commentators like Ed Schultz talk about insurance companies routinely screwing customers. But we only hear about it in the abstract. The media needs to put a human face on this story.
People like the woman at the Barney Frank town hall make a valid point. No American with an ounce of morality supports the idea of death panels. But instead of focusing on Mr. Frank's glib comeback to her, which seemed to be the only takeaway that the media noted in that story, they should have been shedding light on the fact that she's right: death panels are a really bad idea, AND THEY EXIST TODAY IN AMERICA. They're called INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Efforts by health care reform advocates are doomed to fail unless this story gets out.
Is TV news ignoring this story because networks themselves are beholden to insurance companies? I mean, insurance companies are, after all, some of network television's biggest
TV networks are owned by the big corporations (General Electric owns NBC, for example) and the big corporations do not want anything that would reduce their profits, whether it be health insurance reform, rescinding some of their tax breaks or anthing else that they consider to be against their interests.
Love Bernie Sanders...
Hey, anyone else consider that a health care victory could translate to a gay marriage defeat? Check out my post "Backdooring the gays" : http://ell
Healthcare refrom should empower physicians and medical science to be the driving force. Current cost-drivers are health-insurance, pharmaceutical, bio-tech, and bio-engineering companies, led by management interested in their bottom-line; hospital and nursing home administrators; medico-legal system, and consultants. Many doctors claim patients, directing their own treatment options that are not indicated, contribute to higher costs; as do families reluctant to provide basic-care and support to their sick relatives. These cost-drivers contribute to the steep and unsustainable cost-curve. None of these cost-drivers are addressed in the current debate in Congress or town-halls.
The current debate adds to the fragmentation. Complex formulary of insurance and funding only makes the healthcare system more cumbersome and inefficient, adding further irrationalities and alien motivations within the system. And good patient care is lost in the shuffle.
It is the front-line of medical care (physicians, nurses and allied medical professionals) that will make-or-break the new comprehensive healthcare. The old medical adage of "captain of the ship" is an important principle, even in the 21st century; and the one who should be held responsible to "bend the cost-curve
Short-term, significant savings (i.e no additional dollars needed) can be achieved through reforming payments to insurance and drug companies; as well as providers (doctors and hospitals) by using "Best Practice" paradigms. For more info write to glawrenc@m
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