1/7/2009 9:35:00 AM Perspective: Join Jan. 10 discussion on healthcare reform
By Phyllis Schultz
President-elect Barack Obama has appointed a Transition Health Policy Team (THPT) led by Sen. Tom Daschle. Early in December, this team asked citizens to convene community discussions on healthcare reform between Dec. 15 and Dec. 31 and email reports. At least two such events took place in Jefferson County: one on Dec. 20 in Port Townsend, with 30 participants, and one at the Jefferson County Library, with 25.
Stories were told at both events by individuals who have been denied care by their insurance companies, suffered staggering out-of-pocket costs or "went through hell" to get the care they or their loved ones needed. These stories led to a common recommendation to the THPT that reform must include single-payer insurance/universal coverage on a model similar to Medicare for the elderly or the kind of insurance that senators and representatives have.
The groups also agreed that reform should unhook healthcare from the current employer-based system; one group strongly endorsed "The National Health Insurance Act" (HR676) introduced in 2008 by Congressman John Conyers.
Other qualities of reformed healthcare would include "simplified paperwork" and "financial transparency" by providers, and "elimination of corporate lobbying" and "removing the profit motive" by medical/healthcare providers - especially by drug companies, non-essential cosmetic surgeries and high-tech medical equipment and insurers.
Furthermore, the entire system of payment and provision of services should focus on "wellness, prevention and early screening of disease, health promotion education and client advocacy" as well as treatment of disease and injury.
One group suggested that reform be organized similar to "public utilities," which would include private business enterprises to encourage innovation and cost efficiencies but limit excessive profits and executive "bonuses." Both groups agreed that the current "for-profit" systems are costly, inefficient, lack quality controls and end up with de facto "rationing of care" that contribute to our current national financial crisis as well as being unfair and unjust.
Participants were well informed; some had experience with other systems, such as Australia's. Some were aware of less costly and more effective systems in Germany, France and Japan. Other themes common to both groups included the need for "integrated care involving multiple and complementary practitioners, such as physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, nutritionists, mental health providers, rehabilitation therapists and health promotion educators." Increasing the number of primary care and related practitioners was viewed as critical to improving access by offering individual scholarships, grants to professional schools, and incentive programs to ensure access to people in underserved rural and urban areas.
Science-based care that focuses on "evidence-base outcomes" by practitioners and "cost-benefit analyses" were viewed as essential to improved quality of care with the greatest cost savings.
Another "Community Discussion on Health Care Reform" is scheduled this Saturday, Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. at the Quimper Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave. It is moderated by Jenifer Taylor. This is an important opportunity to engage with others on this critically important priority of the forthcoming Obama administration. Your opinions and concerns will help shape the reform so badly needed by all of us.
(Dr. Schultz retired in 2000 from the faculty of the University of Washington School of Nursing, where she taught health services administration and community health.)
Reader Comments
Posted: Saturday, January 10, 2009
Article comment by:
Phyllis McKenzie
I don't blame the Clintons and the fairly good economy during the early 90's. Both the Business community and the public who were covered by their employers could't see the need. It was therefore easy for the Insurance Companies to mount a million dollar campaign to defeat any reform. In the past Ted Kennedy has been a champion for healthcare, however, his backing of the Medicare drug program was a sellout to the Republicans. (Also his support for No Child left Behind makes you wonder about whether he wants good legislation or just his name on some legislation. Please don't pass something as poor as these to pieces of legislation. The drug bill only helps someone like be who takes 1 or 2 generic drugs. If you take anything expensive or many prescriptions you reach the doughnut hole after about 4 months. You also pay large co-pays for many name brand drugs. We have an Medicare Advantage plan because the suppliment insurance plans have become to expensive. I understand that the Democrats or going to do away with the Advantage plans. This will cost us at least $4800 a year. Do you plan on increasing our Social Security by hat amount?
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