Where are we heading as a country? That is the ultimate question that we will be hard pressed to understand. With the passage of Heath care reform, there are still many unanswered questions about its implementation. How will it effect the millions of Americans with and without insurance? So we are challenged; first to understand what it means and second to come to terms with the impact that it will have on America.
The system that we have is broken, but will the new system make everything right? Time has a way of bringing everything to light; illuminating both the good and the bad. It will have that same impact on America, as it shapes the fabric of how Health Care reform will ensure that everyone has coverage.
President Obama continues to work diligently by working first with Congressional Democrats and now with Senate Democrats on the heals of passing sweeping Health Care Reform in Congress. Obama’s main argument is that Health Care Reform cannot help but improve the economy while driving down health cost and keep the insurance industry honest. The economy continues to improve modestly, But President Obama feels Health Care Reform will help to jump start the economy ever further.
As the economy continue to operate on a fragile time line, unemployment continues to hover at an increasing rate. The current unemployment rate is currently over 10 percent. Many corporations continue to downsize and layoff workers. The Obama Administrations’ view is that Health Care Reform is the final piece of the puzzle to bring back the economy from it tailspin.
Dr. Robert Levine author of the new book “Shock Therapy” addressed the problem of rising health care costs. He advocates overhauling the entire system. Health care cost has increased by 8.9% per year. About 3.9% of inflation and this issue is not addressed in the health care legislation passed in congress and the senate version that is up for vote. Over $500 million goes to administrative costs in health care each year. Couple that with unnecessary surgery which is a chronic and systemic problem, it is estimated that about 500,000 out of one million cases involved unnecessary surgery. Doctors are also ordering unnecessary test, because of the huge number of malpractice test.
According to Dr. Levine, there are three main drivers that ramp up the cost of health care . Unnecessary surgeries, the more operations doctors perform , the more they get paid. Doctors are afraid of law suits so they order unnecessary test. Doctors and patients have no access to test, so doctors may inadvertently order the same test. All of these instances cause a tremendous rise in cost. These alternatives are not addressed in any of the bills, house or senate.
In order to eliminate this problem there must be a single payer system. This is needed in order to understand that it is not the government that is the problem, it is the insurance companies that are already between the patient and the doctor. Insurance companies know everything there is to know about you. You cannot hide this information from them. So if you worry about big brother, he already is on the prowl and it is the insurance company. Just ask any insurance agent, if they are honest they will tell you. It does not matter what you withhold on the insurance application underwriters will find out. If you lie, you will lose when you file your claim.
Dr. Levine’s fix is to have an administrative agencies oversee medical administration, put doctors on salary and put everyone on a single payer system. This approach makes total sense.
The house passed the Health Care Bill tonight by a margin of 220-215 for the bill. It is a culmination of nearly 75 years of attempts to pass a bill. With the passing of tonight bill it is the first step in the process. The Senate will have to pass their version of the bill. 39 Democrats actually voted against the bill. Which says volumes about the split between progressives and so call Blue Dog Democrats.
President Obama, congratulated Nancy Pelosi, for a great victory in overseeing a house majority in the vote for Health Care reform. The passing of the bill insures that every American will have affordable health care. Only one Republican voted for the the Health Care Bill.
