Do the People Really Understand Health Care Reform?

It is often difficult when one is close to a problem to step back and envision how that problem looks to those who do not perceive to be ensnared in the problem. It is similarly difficult to realize the complexity of large issues when there are competing issues that seem far more pressing and immediate and affect one directly. No one will argue that we as individuals both consciously and subconsciously perform triage on issues and prioritize them, dealing with the most serious first and the least serious last.

What makes the current cacophony of voices that substitutes for dialogue on health care reform so frustrating is that in each of the instances identified above there is a disconnect among a large proportion of the population as to the seriousness of the issue as it affects them. A large number of the electorate fail to realize that the problem affects them in a very direct way regardless of how close they perceive themselves to be involved with it and has a huge ripple effect on aspects of their lives that they feel are unconnected.

Make no mistake about it, this is a complicated and complex issue, but no more so than climate change and to his everlasting credit Al Gore has educated millions and millions of people worldwide about the importance of this largely scientific phenomenon to their personal lives. Sometimes we need to simplify in ways that seem elementary. Let me attempt to do so in a way that may help the public to become further engaged in an issue that is of tremendous long-term importance not only to them personally but to the society as a whole. I would like to ask a series of questions that need to be answered in the clearest way possible so as to craft a message that may strike the appropriate chord. And remember, as important as it is to ask the right questions, it is every bit as important to shape the answers in a clear, concise, and understandable form.

First, is there a need for health care reform? Why? And specifically, what is it in the current system that needs to be reformed? Incredibly, there appears to be confusion as to whether or not the current system is indeed in need of reform. I know to many of us it appears we have crossed that bridge long ago, but evidently not. Hence, officials and others can begin their arguments with the premise that this is the finest health care system in the world, so why fix what ain't broken?

Second, what are the best ways to fix our health care system? How exactly would that affect me directly? What would change for me if we put this fix into place?

Third, can we control health care costs that are spiraling out of control by fixing the system? How will this occur? What does it mean for me, both as an individual and as a contributing (read tax-paying) member of society?

Fourth, what exactly are the goals of the current health care system? Should we institute a better set of goals? What are the actual outcomes of the current system? Can we effect a better set of outcomes? How will these outcomes affect me as an individual?

Fifth, please outline everything, I mean everything, in terms of what it means to me. I need to know exactly how my life will change and why it will be better. If it is better for me, it must be better for everyone.

Now if all this sounds like it is a little me-centered, it is. And unfortunately, that is the only language we Americans seem to be able to relate to, at least those who are currently spewing the ill-informed spittle that is being voiced and covered at these town hall meetings or that is being propagated by the conservative opposition forces.

I fear that sometimes we give the populace far too much credit for being well-versed on the issues. For instance, single-payer system, public option, co-ops, even though they may seem to be evident on their respective faces, far too many seem confused, and who among us would feel comfortable explaining the differences in ways that would not force average people's eyes to glaze over?

Keep it simple stupid (KISS) would be well employed here. We must first show unequivocally that the patient, in this case our health care system, is very ill. Strange thing, when people are seriously ill they care little about how they get better, only that that is the ultimate outcome. It seems to me that far too few people are either aware or accepting that the patient is ill, seriously ill. Thus, this must be our first and most prominent task.

Given the time table for action it does not appear to be too late to employ such a simplification strategy. Given our failure to succeed in reforming the health care system it seems imperative that we take the time to lay the proper foundation for this debate and in many instances we need to fill in the cracks of the current foundation, one that is permeated with misinformation and deception.

The opposition forces are strong, but the forces for change are stronger. We must arm these forces for change with arguments and rationales that are understandable and persuasive. My guess is that if understood and conveyed correctly, they will be persuasive.

Follow Lance Simmens on Twitter: www.twitter.com/lancesimmens

Comments

[Philclock]

NOT BY LISTENING TO OBAMA AND THE DNC, WHO ARE APOPLECTIC ABOUT AN IMMEDIATE HEALTH CARE DISASTER!

It's not serious for me, my friends, my community or from friends in health care, except those with really bad ailments that need long-term care.

BUT OBAMA SAYS IT'S A CRISIS BANKRUPTING THE COUNTRY, CONGRESSWOMAN ANNA ESHOO SAID IN HER TOWN HALL MEETING THE WHOLE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL, WE MUST PASS HER THOUSAND + PAGE BILL HEALTH CARE BILL WITH GOVERNMENT RUNNING AND MANDATING JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT'S JUST TOO IMPORTANT FOR PRIVATE INDUSTRY TO HANDLE, HEALTH CARE MUST BE RUN FOR THE REST OF US BY PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, not just you and me, because you and me, we're only looking out for ourselves.

IF RONALD REGAN DEFEATED COMMUNISM, OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE BRINGING IT RIGHT BACK! I was ASTONISHED to hear Ms. Eshoo, 8 term congresswoman representing the rags-to-riches free market in Silicon Valley, BUYING INTO CRUSHING PATIENT RIGHTS WITH CENTRALLY PLANNED HEALTH CARE and with Obamaspeak says patients have more choice! Amazing! Patients have no power; all plans and services are HEAVILY MANDATED AND REGULATED BY BIG GOVERNMENT, might as well be "single payer". Private plans today can't operate across state lines: only 6 insurance companies out of about 1300 nationwide are allowed in California, which has the 7th largest economy of any country!

Am I right, or am I right?

[johnashman]

What's there to understand. There's no healthcare reform and precious little insurance reform either.

[Chironomid]

The problem is we all understand different parts of it better than others, and see the problem thru our viewpoint of the moment. I remember as a young man out of college at 23 yrs old scoffing at the idea that any fool would pay for health insurance at all. If I have a plan from an employer, it was a great plan to me, because I didn't have to pay for it, and I never had to test whether it would pay out in a crisis. I frankly don't recall if I did or didn't at that time; gives you an idea of its priority.

I thought it was the coolest thing ever when I went to an orthopedist with a shoulder problem, and he ordered an MRI and showed me all around my shoulder. I didn't recognize "fee for service" or unnecessary defensive medicine in this cool tool, which did nothing to solve my shoulder problem. I thought that was "good medicine".

So much of what I now understand about our system, I've assembled from multiple health experiences with different insurers, and from my own background in human performance and physiology. It's been a lifelong process and no healthy 25 year old can possibly see eye to eye with me on it.

And our Medicare recipients have that long-sought coverage security we would all like and defend it like hyenas over a kill. They know that private insurers will leave you hanging when the going gets rough.

[expired]

Dear MoveOn member,
The public health insurance option is the heart of health care reform and right now it's under serious attack.

Even some members of the administration are pushing President Obama to give in to conservatives and drop it: one senior White House adviser told The Washington Post, "I don't understand how [the public option] has become the measure of whether what we achieve is health-care reform."1

This unnamed source apparently doesn't understand that the public option is the key to lowering health care costs and expanding coverage.

But there is a group of progressives in Washington who DO understand. Sixty House Democrats have signed a written pledge to not vote for health care reform unless it includes a robust public option.2 That's more than enough to block a bill without the public option.

These representatives are already facing pressure to back down, but if we stand strong with them, we'll send a clear signal that the heart of reform can't be compromised away. Can you make a contribution to the progressives in Congress who are standing tall for the public option? Clicking the link below will take you to ActBlue, where you can donate.

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51789&id=16918-9193653-lMdAxQx&t=3

[Teamster]

I read most of the artical / before I i identified the author.thanks.

1. legislators may get the majority vote , and there will be many
new faces in the congress and the senate 2010 please accept that now.

Said before my DNC is fine but need is to face facts ( the electorate ) and polls.

2.many like myself paid into insurance 50 or more years and do not cotton to the idea
of being short on medicare.

3.Mandatory for all to have insurance personal choice, if the family can not ( tax reports) pay for it subsidise) the uninsured.the difference. offer collective purchase or out of state buy, proposed
to the Senate.

4. move on tort reform or any price gouging of providers.

[johnashman]

This is a better plan -

http://64.203.97.61/SolutionsLab/Solution.aspx?Guid=2d50363e-00be-44e8-9251-9a6589ba820d

[highplainslawyer]

An even more simple solution: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-676