Reforming the Healthcare System: Why It Can Happen Now

How many of you have read HR 3200, or at least detailed summaries of it? Raise your hands now. Hmm. Not a whole lot, I bet. Many probably don't know what HR 3200 is, I suppose.

Well, HR 3200 is the number of the House Bill that reforms our health care system, and that two of its committees have now passed. I have reviewed a detailed summary of it, since reading the 1,018 pages in the bill is too much for my off hours to consume. It is, however, incredulous to believe that those who have not read it, or its details, are relying upon others to say that President Obama is rushing to judgment, and that what we should do is, slow down -- let's take another ten or so months as Michael Steele, RNC chair said the other day.

Jim Dimint (R-S.C.) calls failure of health care reform Obama's "Waterloo" (remember, the Battle of Waterloo did in Napoleon). I would challenge anyone reading this blog to say that waiting another ten months means ten months that, by merely the passage of time, will transform 1,018 pages into a handbook of 10-20 pages that anyone can read over a cup of java at the kitchen table at breakfast time. It won't happen; it will never happen. Also, ten months as Steele suggests just "happens" to run into mid-year election time, so those running for office surely will not wish to be involved in health care reform then; they might lose their seats in Congress depending on how they would vote.

So, whether we wait a couple of more weeks after having legislators work on reform for weeks and weeks or many more months, there will always be a contentiousness about reforming health care, and hundreds of pages of text to go through reflecting what should or should not be in legislation. All the while millions more will lose coverage and we who have coverage will be paying more for those who do not -- ask any hospital who treats folks without insurance how hospitals can afford to do that.

As but another example of what I am saying, there is a volunteer group of health care providers (RAM, or Rural Area Medical as I believe it is called) going around the nation providing free health care over a weekend's worth of time. One stop was in Tennessee not too long ago; another is coming up in Virginia. But what is amazing is that a countless number of ordinary folks are driving hundreds of miles to be seen for health issues because they can't afford to pay for treatment back home. It is a sad tale indeed, but symptomatic that health care for everyone cannot wait for a politician determining whether the time is right for him or her to vote for it now. In some measure, factored into the current debate is a leap of faith which we all must have.

We have all heard about how a public health insurance option will "kill" us, right? Well, has anyone read the language in HR 3200 to date on this point? This in summary is what it says:

"Like private plans, it (public health insurance option) must offer the same benefits, abide by the same insurance market reforms, follow provider network requirements and other consumer protections."

Geez, is this language going to kill us?

What about pre-existing conditions? The bill says:

"Prohibits the application of pre-existing condition exclusions".

Let's look at guaranteed coverage. The bill says:

"Requires guaranteed issue (no one can be denied health insurance) and renewal of insurance policies and prohibits the use of rescissions except in instances of fraud."

Now, there are a considerable number of sections in this bill, too many for this blog, but include more benefits for ordinary Americans, providers and small businesses (and don't forget there are two bills from the Senate that either have passed through committee or will be introduced). Yet, naysayers continue to say the "sky is falling", the "sky is falling"; it will cost too much; we need more time to revamp the system -- we have already spent 50 years in failing to provide a quality system that everyone can provide and access. Recall the biblical saying, if not now, when? There is no "when" for health care reform. The time is... Now.

So, to all Americans, ask those who oppose what Obama and his administration are trying to do what they suggest? If they do any better than Michael Steele ("I am not in health policy"), be skeptical... and surprised. Because Republicans have not offered alternatives, they know they cannot do any better, and hope Obama fails as a politician. Heck to the rest of us, huh?

The title of this blog is about reforming health care and why it can happen: the answer lies within each and every one of us telling our legislators to act with courage and take that leap of faith.

Comments

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A single payer system is the only real option in my opinion, and that has never even been on the table in this administration. If they want a transition to single payer since it appears the public is not emotionally ready for such a drastic change, just start by forcing all Federal employees into such a system. If after 5 years results do not show significant savings and comprable health results to the current private system, then we look at the next alternative. But all we are doing now with these current bills is shoveling more public funds into private hands.

[grazzt]

Leap of Faith!?! Why does everything have to be done NOW? So we should all just pony up and accept whatever may be included in this bill because we have to do SOMETHING - regardless if it improves the system or not. From all I've read of these bills is that they madate some form of insurance coverage not the providing of actual care. I also get the sense from these bills is that private insurance will still be able to "cherry pick" who they provide coverage to and all the people with pre-existing conditions or who are "bad risks" will be pushed into the Gov't plan. Thereby, private insurance is happy since they still get to keep making a profit from deciding who to cover and what care they can receive and the Gov't provided insurance will either have a substantially higher cost, provide less care or have less access to care providers due to the fact that they will not pay the higher rate for services that the private insurance companies can afford to.