On Tuesday Barack Obama signed the healthcare reform bill into law. Presidents for nearly a century have been working toward improving our healthcare system and President Obama and the vast majority of Democrats who voted for the bill feel that they have finally accomplished what many have tried and failed at. Many Americans and all Republicans in Congress opposed this bill and are worried about its costs and the expanding role of government in our lives. Regardless of how you feel about healthcare reform, this law is, by most accounts, the most sweeping law regarding domestic policy, and the relationship between the American public and the federal government, passed in this country since the 1960s. I would like to know what you think.
First take a look at an overview of the history of healthcare reform efforts.
Then it will help to take a look at some of the highlights of the new law (or a more detailed description here) and how it is likely to affect you here or here.
From there I would simply like to know your response: Do you support this new law or oppose it? Was this an example of the true value of our political system or the true danger of it?
I support the Law, though I don't think it goes far enough. Without a single payer option, the government lacks a great deal of leverage to negotiate costs and treatments for its citizens.
ReplyDeleteStill this is a good beginning. I do believe that citizens deserve certain tangible goods and services from the government. I also believe that as a citizen we are expected to do things for the government as well such as pay taxes, go to war, participate in the making of laws, etc.
That pharmaceutical and hospitals might not become billionaires off the broken backs of its clients, well that's just too bad. That big buisness will be taxed as a result of this action, well that's too bad too. Just think about all the companies who have taken for granted the "free" air, water and land and polluted it to the extent that people live in an environment so toxic that cancers and other diseases become a fact of "life". Just in my backyard I have the lovely Newton Creek and a host of other superfund sites. I wonder what I'll get or how much my environment has caused the death of some my loved ones. Too bad neither I or them had the common sense to move before we ever found out we were living in this mess.
So the government is there to protect its citizens from attack both domestic and foreign. By promoting health and access to health maybe we are off to a good start.
(Abortion should have been a part of the law and for that exclusion I am very sorry.)
BTW I always loved T Roosevelt, that was some bad ass president we had, after being reminded that he was one of the first to politicize health care, I love the guy more! Check out his house on LI, good field trip.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tom i think we should wait and see , it has been a very long time since any of the health reforms passed in the "House"...although the new plan has it's pluses and minuses, we should be Optimistic. Like Prof. Epstein said in the class " We choose representatives who are supposed to be "smarter than us" who are supposed to make wiser decision than a regular mob would" so let's hope we choose the right representatives and the president who made the Health proposal come true...
ReplyDeleteI think that the health care reform was done, but as always there are some catches. One of the good things about the bill is that children (like me) are covered under our parents plan until the age of 26. by the year 2014 however, the gov't demands that the entire population be covered, and if your are not covered by medicare, you are to be fined. Which to me makes absolutely no sense, the government is like ok your not recieving health care from us , so well fine you even though you arent getting any benefits.
ReplyDeleteI knew the ultimate goal of the Democrats was to put private insurance companies out of business, and this law actually does a BETTER job of doing that than a 'public option'. Why? Because no insurance co. can possibly meet all of the demands made by the new law and remain viable. Once a few big insurers go broke under the weight of gov't mandates, a public option will happily fill the void. Once the remaining insurers go under, the public option will be the only game in town and we'll finally have the DMV-care system the Know-Nothings have always wanted.
ReplyDeleteHere are 3 truths about American Healthcare:
1) You know who pays for the socialized HC in all those wonderful EU states and Canada? We do! America foots almost the entire bill for the military protection of all NATO countries (and Japan and South Korea), which leaves them free to pour all of their budgets into HC. The next time someone returns from an American-funded EU state and raves about the HC there, tell them, "You're Welcome." We should send them an invoice, I'm tellin' ya'.
2) American HC is already 85% run by the gov't anyway. If it's currently messed up (and I agree that it is), who do you think messed it up?
3) Every HC innovation of the last 60 yrs has come from American doctors and American pharmaceutical companies. When was the last time the EU cured anything? I think the last HC innovation to come out of Europe was Austin Powers' Swedish-made...um...'device'.
@ Cameron, so why are we still the worlds policeman? I dont think we should be any more. I agree that we foot the military bill and don't get much in return. So who is really going to attack Europe now? China?
ReplyDeleteSo what's another 15 percent? Chump change. All in, I say.
The last one I'm not sure about.
Tom - I agree that it is a wonderful step that unfortunately does not go far enough. The fight for national healthcare coverage has been taken up from time to time by a variety of people for over 90 years. The fact that President Obama's plan met such resistance can attest to the challenges these individuals have faced. While their intentions were admirable - they were not able to survive the fight. I do think it is fantastic that Americans can now secure healthcare coverage without thinking about their budgets or "pre-existing" conditions – I am concerned if the new issue would be that the level of care received will be compromised. Not to sound like a doctor snob or a supporter of the exorbitant fees they charge – its just that in my 15 years living the States - I've seen the difference in the quality of care and access to care that patients receive based on the type of insurance coverage they carry. Because of the minimal payments insurance companies give out; some doctors chose to not accept ANY form of insurance.
ReplyDeleteThese "preferred" doctors (with their competent and caring staff) who take their time with their patients; are available at times that people do require a doctor (Saturday or evenings); return calls; only request the necessary testing and routine assessments; may start more and more to require that their patients pay out of pocket. Perhaps I have been exposed to the bottom of the barrel in certain areas and the cream of the top in others that may be due to different issues - I still can’t help but wonder what the average Joe Blow have to contend with now?
@ Nicole
ReplyDeletecheck out this article from the nyt for potential average Joe care.
http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/organizations/c/cleveland_clinic/index.html
Hmm this thing doesn't like links. So here's the ar
ReplyDeleteReport an ErrorTIMES TOPICS > ORGANIZATIONS > C > CLEVELAND CLINIC
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Cleveland Clinic
Updated July 23, 2009
The Cleveland Clinic is a not-for-profit medical research and treatment center that is considered one of the country's best and most prestigious medical institutions.
President Obama, as part of his fight to change America's health care system, visited the clinic on July 23, 2009. At a news conference the previous night, he called it a model of efficient care, saying its patient care system "works so well" because it has "set up a system where patient care is the number-one concern, not bureaucracy."
Like the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., the Cleveland Clinic pays its doctors a salary, rather than piecemeal, and delivers excellent results for relatively little money.
In 2009, U.S. News and World Report rated the Cleveland Clinic as the fourth best hospital in the United States. The magazine has for the last 15 years said the clinic offers the best heart care in the country, at its Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute. Twelve of the clinic's programs were rated in the top 10, with seven in the top five and three - urology, rheumatology and digestive disorders (the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases and Digestive Disease Institute) - as No. 2.
Other departments in the top 10 include gynecology, orthopedics, nephrology (kidney disease), neurology and neurological surgery, pulmonary (respiratory disorders), and endocrinology.
According to the clinic's Web site, it was founded in 1921 by four top physicians "with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation." It has facilities throughout northeast Ohio, around the country and elsewhere, including clinics in Florida, Canada and Abu Dhabi. Its health system includes eight community hospitals, a children's hospital for rehabilitation and an affiliate hospital.
The clinic lists 1,800 salaried physicians and scientists on staff, representing 120 specialties and subspecialties. In 2008, it says, it had 3.3 million visits and more than 50,000 hospital admissions. Patients come from more than 80 countries.
Tom - my concern is not so much the cost of average Joe care but rather as I mentioned - who would be providing that care. Again, my situation may have been attributed to other factors (class, location, not politics) but I have noticed the differences. The Cleveland Clinic has a steller reputation but does everyone, everywhere really have an opportunity to access these types of facilities?
ReplyDeleteAs far as the politics behind all of this - it took over 90 years for the discussions to go past discussions and this year even more we see how private corporations have more influence over the political decision making process.
@Nicole. True, I was showing that there are alternative models right now that are successful. Looking to the future there will be even more of these kinds of establishments, at least I hope so.
ReplyDeleteStill it is not impossible to imagine a system where most mundane treatments can be provided for at very low cost or no cost to the patient. Where one doesn't have to fear losing a home just to pay for treatments.
I think that the health care reform was a GREAT decison. I think that the idea of NOT placing a price tag on BAD health is beautiful. I also think that it will allow for those who need help to get the help that they need regardless to how much it costs. Also with the age requirements for the young adults, I feel as though it will be I less thing for US to worry about! That if you are in school or working a job that is a small business, it isnt fair that you shouldnt be covered by healthcare. Healthcare should be given to all human beings because we are all EQUAL!
ReplyDeleteWell I personally would say that the health care bill is good in my book. Simple because it is for the best interest of the citizens of America. The bill would prevent insurers from discriminating against people with preexisting conditions, caps the financial responsibility that insured individuals will face when medical emergencies strike, bans insurers for dropping folks because they get sick, and proposes a host of other insurance industry reforms.
ReplyDeleteConservatives and Republicans who underestimate President Obama do so at their own electoral peril. I believe that Obama is a true believer, someone who understands that transforming policy translates into votes and a citizenry that is more reliant on the federal government.
Yes, some would say that the health care bill is of no good and only support the lazy, good for nothing people in this country and also congressional Republicans are hoping that the historic push will give them an advantage in the 2010 midterm elections.
In reality, bush made a mess, and barrack is cleaning it up. Although, healthcare has always been a chronic issue in the United States, at least barrack is willing to deal with it to the best of his ability. He did something about it which is more than what we can say for the past presidents. Why are there people who don’t want the citizens of America to have a better chance of getting insurance? Thanks barrack and keep up the good work. It’s a shame but these days you have to be brave to do what works for the common welfare and not just the wealth people (top dogs) in this country
@ Cameron, can you please validate your widespread sweeping statements? sources? citations? It seems to me to be more an opinion than anything. America "colonizes" any nation it "helps" Anytime America gets involved you can believe there is a profitable reason. Lets not pretend that The U.S. just cares so much about world suffering. Private insurance companies have long profited from the unsuspecting members it claims to cover. Most treatment issues are resolved not by doctors, but by a board of directors or a panel of insurance executives, who then deem you untreatable if the life saving cure you need would cost them to much. If you have hit your lifetime max then you are most certainly forgotten. For years the agenda of the republican party and others has been to make the most while spending the least. Now they would have us believe that healthcare for those who make them rich is ludacris. I believe its the other way around.
ReplyDeleteAfter generating billions and killing millions, insurance companies finally have to shape up. I really dont understand the opposition to this bill. The cost of life is worth any dollar amount. Would you rather children below the poverty line die so that you only have a 15 min wait at your annual check up? Is the U.S. not one nation, indivisible? I see the propaganda key word "socialism" has been used for years by the rich who would like not only to remain so, but who would like their wealth to grow tenfold.
Im so sorry that instead of 900 million in profits they will make only 700 million. From ABC news -
"WellPoint late last month reported a net income of $730.2 million, less than last year but better than expected. UnitedHealth, Aetna, Humana and Cigna all saw double-digit percentage increases in their profits. The latter three all reported earnings above $300 million each, while UnitedHealth's third-quarter earnings were just north of $1 billion"
But somehow ther isnt enough money to cover the low-middle class huh? Figures. It is not the right of any proffessional to make obscene amounts of money. If doctors wont practice because they will only recieve a low- mid 6 figure income, then they should never take the Hippocratic(hypocritical) oath. We need more people who actually care about medicine. Alot of doctors hate their jobs but pursue it in order to keep up with the joneses. These money mongers are a big part of our problem.
Let us begin to resemble humans again. Lets atleast pretend we care about others even though we may have never met. Or we could just let them eat cake....
@jbookal-"barrack"-really?
ReplyDelete@Angel,"it is not the right of any professional to make obsene amounts of money" ??? Says who? Doctors WILL continue practicing, im sure, and it is their right to make money as much as they deserve. Its their own business, not ours.
The issue will be that certain tests that patients will need will not be available and/or covered same as for the retired. Sad.
On a good note, I think 10% excise tax on tanning is great! Finally, lets realize what it does to you. It should just be illigal!
Abortion-simply a victory for us.It will still cover victims of rape, incest and mothers.Everybody else-GROW UP and THINK with your brain,(why should we pay for teenage retardation?)