Today was a very interesting day as far as the “Quest for Health Care Reform” goes. I’d like to say that lots was accomplished and progress was made regarding Health Care Reform at today’s Health Care Summit being held by President Obama. However, if I were to say this, I’d be lying. I look at all those who attended. They seem to be there under the cloak of “compromise” and “reaching across party lines”. Frankly, the only reaching across party lines I saw was to punch people in the face. It shocks me to see what appears to be the lack of common sense in Washington. Why is it so hard to actually compromise? Why is it so hard to actually reach across party lines?
Currently, Washington is plagued by this “Do All or Nothing” attitude. This is why Democrats can’t accept Republican ideas. This is why Republicans can’t accept Democrat ideas. It seems that those in Washington behave much like four year olds trying to get what they want.
I don’t claim to know all the facts nor do I claim to have all the solutions but if I could draft a Health Care, it would include the following concepts…….
- Medical Malpractice Reform
- I understand that there are some cases in which patients should be entitled for monetary compensation for pain and suffering. One case that comes to mind was mentioned during today’s Health Care Summit. A woman went to remove a mole on her face and while under anesthesia, her oxygen supply caught fire and she recieved several burns on her face. This is one such case where I can see compensation being merited. However most cases are not merited. This causes doctors to practice medicine defensively and also increases the cost of health care because doctors have to pay exorbitant amounts of money for Medical Malpractice Insurance.
- Efficient Health Care Treatment
- I’m not exactly sure what compels doctors to give out tests like they are candy. I have had relatives who have undergone redundant testing because of a lack of efficiency in the way treatment and testing is being done. One example involved a fractured coccyx bone (tailbone). The doctor informed the patient that there were two scans that could be done, “one general” and “one more specific”. The doctor ordered the more general one to be performed and this scan revealed something quite extraordinary! It was revealed that the general scan was a waste of time. It was not until the more specific scan was done that the problem was revealed in its entirety. The problem with this though was not cost. It was covered fully by the insurance company. The problem here lies with the efficiency. While low cost to patients even with good insurance, insurance companies have to pay for this. Some like to demonize big business and have a type of mentality that consists of “Yeah! Stick it to the insurance companies!” However, this mentality is not good. If insurance companies have to pay for excessive tests and treatments, they can not pay for tests that are really needed. It seems that those who practice health care are fond of the portrayals in TV shows. Perhaps the most striking example is House. I like House and think it is a very entertaining show but one can’t help but notice that they too give tests left and right. While this makes for a very entertaining and high rated show, it does not bode well for a health care system that is in need of reform. Surely both parties can agree that it’s always good to reduce spending.
- Shopping Across State Lines
- Competition. Competition is the basis of a free market. “Company A” can’t rape my wallet because “Company B” is in existance to compete with “Company A”. If prices with one company are too high, consumers vote with their dollar and flock to the other company with competitive prices. We can all pretty much acknowledge that competition is a good thing. This is why antitrust law is in existance, to prevent companies to gang up and rape our wallets. Currently however, there is nothing to prevent this. Consumers are forced to shop for insurance within their states. This leads to vast market share holding in certain states. If the market was opened up, this was lower prices because insurance companies would have to compete for consumers.
In conclusion, there are a myriad of ideas that could be implemented for a very successful health care reform bill. It’s only a matter of communicating and being open to ideas. The above were only a mere sampling. You’d think that those in Washington could do a hell of a lot more in a year and a half. But no. Instead, we are left with a whole lot of bickering.
Here’s hoping to actual progress. . .
Tags: Health Care, Reform