Jim Stillman
Nevar
The Obama agenda: healthcare - I
March 19th 2009 16:16
My daughter and son-in-law are hard working, dedicated and well-trained physicians. The latter is a specialist in pulmonary and critical care, works many hours a week without sleep and rest and is thoroughly dedicated to his profession and patients. My daughter has four children and Chipper, a very demanding Yellow Lab and is a pediatrician. They agree with me, I think, that changes are necessary in the delivery of health care in this country; they are, I am quite confident, opposed to my views. The Doctors would suggest that if only trial attorneys were forbidden to sue medical professionals, or even free to roam the streets, everything would be right in the world; as a retired attorney, I disagree.
This is the first post on this topic. The first two will point out flaws and problems with our healthcare delivery system, its costs and how our system puts us at a disadvantage in the world's economy. The final post will suggest solutions.
There are some facts that appear to be indisputable.
First, many millions of people do not have access to medical care because of the cost.
Second, many millions people cannot purchase health care insurance, because of the cost, because of pre-existing illness or condition or because it is simply not available.
Third, according to the report of the Business Roundtable, made up of the Chief Executive Officers of major United States corporations, issued last week, “America’s health care
system has become a liability in a global economy”
The Roundtable, according to the report by the Associated Press continues
President Obama’s Blueprint, A New Era of Responsibility, published by the Budget Office, and is not easy reading. Its 137 pages outline the vast scope of the President’s undertaking. He states that economic stability, job creation and the housing and mortgage collapse require immediate and drastic action. But in the long run, there will be no solution to the crises facing this country unless and until there is health care reform.
The next post in this series suggests some preliminary questions to ask ourselves before examining some possible solutions.
This is the first post on this topic. The first two will point out flaws and problems with our healthcare delivery system, its costs and how our system puts us at a disadvantage in the world's economy. The final post will suggest solutions.
There are some facts that appear to be indisputable.
First, many millions of people do not have access to medical care because of the cost.
Second, many millions people cannot purchase health care insurance, because of the cost, because of pre-existing illness or condition or because it is simply not available.
Third, according to the report of the Business Roundtable, made up of the Chief Executive Officers of major United States corporations, issued last week, “America’s health care
system has become a liability in a global economy”
The Roundtable, according to the report by the Associated Press continues
Concern about high U.S. costs has existed for years, and business executives — whose companies provide health coverage for workers — have long called for getting costs under control. Now President Barack Obama says the costs have become unsustainable and the system must be overhauled.
Americans spend $2.4 trillion a year on health care. The Business Roundtable report says Americans in 2006 spent $1,928 per capita on health care, at least two-and-a-half times more per person than any other advanced country.
In a different twist, the report took those costs and factored benefits into the equation.
It compares statistics on life expectancy, death rates and even cholesterol readings and blood pressures. The health measures are factored together with costs into a 100-point "value" scale. That hasn't been done before, the authors said.
The results are not encouraging.
The United States is 23 points behind five leading economic competitors: Canada, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. The five nations cover all their citizens, and though their systems differ, in each country the government plays a much larger role than in the U.S.
In a different twist, the report took those costs and factored benefits into the equation.
It compares statistics on life expectancy, death rates and even cholesterol readings and blood pressures. The health measures are factored together with costs into a 100-point "value" scale. That hasn't been done before, the authors said.
The results are not encouraging.
The United States is 23 points behind five leading economic competitors: Canada, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. The five nations cover all their citizens, and though their systems differ, in each country the government plays a much larger role than in the U.S.
President Obama’s Blueprint, A New Era of Responsibility, published by the Budget Office, and is not easy reading. Its 137 pages outline the vast scope of the President’s undertaking. He states that economic stability, job creation and the housing and mortgage collapse require immediate and drastic action. But in the long run, there will be no solution to the crises facing this country unless and until there is health care reform.
“This moment is one of great paradox and promise: while there are millions of Americans trying to find work, there is also so much work to be done. That’s why the recovery Act and our Budget will make long overdue investments in priorities—like clean energy, education, health care, and a new infrastructure—that are necessary to keep
To improve the quality of our health care while lowering its cost, we will make the immediate investments needed to computerize all of America’s medical records within five years while protecting the privacy of patients. This is a necessary step to reducing waste, eliminating red tape, and avoiding the need to repeat expensive medical tests. We also will fundamentally reform our health care system, delivering quality care to more Americans while reducing costs for us all. This will make our businesses more competitive and ease a significant and growing burden middle-class families are bearing.”
To improve the quality of our health care while lowering its cost, we will make the immediate investments needed to computerize all of America’s medical records within five years while protecting the privacy of patients. This is a necessary step to reducing waste, eliminating red tape, and avoiding the need to repeat expensive medical tests. We also will fundamentally reform our health care system, delivering quality care to more Americans while reducing costs for us all. This will make our businesses more competitive and ease a significant and growing burden middle-class families are bearing.”
The next post in this series suggests some preliminary questions to ask ourselves before examining some possible solutions.
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