Health Care Quote

I read a fantastic article about Medicare on NPR. It is basically about how Medicare actually succeeds. This frames my opinion about the Healthcare debate so awesomely well:

"Bernfield says she's not at all worried about claims that the bills now under consideration in Congress might cut back on her Medicare benefits. In fact, she thinks the country would be better off if everyone could have the same Medicare benefits she enjoys.

"I think people don't understand that instead of government in their business, they have health insurance companies in their business," she says. "Somebody is overseeing your health care no matter what your status is. Whether it's to tell you you can have it or you can't have it, somebody is there checking off a box."

I know that insurance has to examine claims to stop fraud. But the profit incentive to deny claims... it sickens me. I hope congress really starts to change things about health care in the United States. Mandated coverage and a public option... it just makes me excited to think about this.

I'm excited about a mandate because it may prevent costly visits to the ER that are paid for by those who actually pay bills / have insurance. Because of a mandate, hopefully we will see more visits to the primary physician to prevent illness and treat disease before it becomes an emergency.

I'm excited about a public option because of its lack of profit incentive and the proven low overhead of government administered health care. That means I'm getting bang for my buck. Plus, Medicare is portable and actually affords extensive coverage. What a dream that a poor student like me can have access to that kind of care... it just makes me happy. And all the people working day after day without health benefits for big companies like WalMart, Target, or small companies like Downeast Outfitters, Cafe Rio, or Yogurt Land -- YOU WILL HAVE GOOD HEALTH CARE IN YOUR REACH!

It just makes me excited! So come on congress! Work together! Bring the great Republican ideas about malpractice, and trimming wasteful government spending (ie. subsidizing drugs at a RIDICULOUS COST). Bring the great Democrat ideas about mandates and a public option! Let's do it!

And to all you lousy, lying, and filthy lobbies, right-wing radio idiots, self-serving politicians, and liberal snobs... stop stirring the pot of contention. Do something useful and actually present both sides of the problem we face in health care! Or better, just go away.

Obama & Health Care

The New York times ran an interesting editorial on health care that got me thinking about health care reform again.

First of all, Obama spoke to the AMA today. The reaction was chilly. Obama's proposed changes to malpractice, electronic health records, and anti-smoking legistlation were met warmly. However, the push for health cost savings was met with ice cold stares. So why the resistance from the AMA?

Fortunately, the NY Times expanded on this and provided an explanation. Essentially, health cuts really hurt physician salaries because they get less money for doing the same thing. Does this idea need to be expanded? Probably not.

So what is the solution? I think we need to simplify the system. I think materials and procedures should have a consistent cost and a clear system of billing. Is this possible? If so, it would provide a clearer picture as to how Obama's plan would change things. Because I think right now, everything is just speculation. We don't know how physician compensation would change. We don't know how our costs will change. Everything is a step in the dark.

Hopefully, President Obama will continue to make more steps to inform us about his proposed changes. I will be listening carefully for any numbers that he reports. So if you're interested tune in June 24th for Obama's "Health Care Town Hall" on ABC.

The United Nations

Just a little history lesson. The following is taken from the United Nations website:

The forerunner of the United Nations was the League of Nations, an organization conceived in similar circumstances during the first World War, and established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles "to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security." The International Labour Organization was also created under the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League. The League of Nations ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War.

In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter. Those delegates deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks, United States in August-October 1944. The Charter was signed on 26 June 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries. Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 Member States.

Why do I insert this lengthy block quote from the United Nations? It is because I heard someone complain about how much the U.S. has to give the United Nations. Well, as it turns out we don't give them anything... although we should be. The Better World Campaign (a US interest group) reports the following:

United States debt to the United Nations, in both the regular and peacekeeping budgets, exceeded $1.5 billion at the start of 2009. By far, the largest amount of debt is for peacekeeping, which is more than $1.3 billion. These arrears make the United States the largest debtor to the United Nations and threaten its ability to leverage the international community toward achieving key U.S. national security priorities.

This is ridiculous and shameful. We bail out auto-makers in Detroit for billions more, and the United States fails to contribute properly to the United Nations. The amount owed by the United States has been accruing for several years. It is a pittance of the United States GNP.

To me, foreign policy matters. Let's give this wonderful organization some legitimacy. I hope Obama keeps shaking hands with Chavez. Let's make friends not enemies. Yes, be firm with countries doing terrible things. But lets talk before we make a press statement about the "Axis of Evil".