The same man who drummed up the Swift Boat "scandal" against John Kerry's 2004 presidential bid is behind the "socialist" health care scares against President Obama's health care reform plans: Rick Scott. He himself has a shady past - the biggest health care settlement over fraud in U.S. history. Imagine slinging mud when you've got that kind of history? Politico broke the story about the launch of his group Conservatives for Patients' Rights, using his own money behind trying to bomb Obama's health care plans before they get launched. Scott claims that the more government is involved with health care, the worse it will be. You can read his own March 2009 entry at The Health Care Blog in which he outlines the four "pillars" of Patients rights: choice, competition, accountability, responsibility.
Nicolas Kristof's column in yesterday's NYTimes gave a great example of a Canadian who happens to have had some pretty good experiences with her medical care for $49 a month. Hmm, imagine going into an Emergency Room and no one is sticking a clipboard in your face to find out how you're going to pay for it? So all those terrible stories you hear about Canadian health care, don't assume those are the only ones.
I just had lunch with a friend who spent seven hours in Emergency Room waiting last week here in Michigan.
So it's time to weed out the scary stories from the true ones - both here at home and in that terrible country to our north (and across the pond) - while the Obama administration forges ahead with health care reform. Come on, something has to give with the cost of every little - and big - item related to medicine, and when someone desperately needs medical attention but can't go to the ER because they don't have insurance. It's lovely to want each of us to be in charge of our own health care, but when at least 46 million - 18% - of Americans don't have health care coverage (in 2007 according to this site), what is in their control besides the choice not to go to the doctor and suffer?
8 comments:
I realize that saying we need to weed out the scary stories from the true ones is a mis-statement. Some scary stories are true.
Read a doctor's resignation letter to the AMA here after their response to the Senate Finance Committee's health care reform proposal. About being a doctor but not wanting a physician-centered health care system.
I mean that's what Dr. McCoy's letter is about, not the AMA's response.
Ruthie, the Kristof piece was in our paper this morning, along with an article about President Obama's push for this to happen and that he is NOT fooling around. The bit that I found interesting was Kristof's line "No doubt there are some genuine horror stories in Canada." No doubt, but what about the horror stories that you read in the papers that are happening with health care in the U.S.? I'm sure for every person in Canada who has to wait for treatment or an operation, there are ten stories of people in the U.S. who have suffered at the hands of our health care system.
I have no doubt that Josh's inability to have health care insurance because of the diabetes contributed to his downfall. Why should we feel anything but scorn for the insurance companies and their lobbyists and congressional backers, when they are the biggest factor in this whole mess?
I wouldn't mind an honest single-payer vs. extended-managed debate, but your analysis of Scott shows exactly what's wrong with the right. The Economist or StratFor or other sites could speak for an intelligent right, but both the Republicans and the independent right seem to prefer the shrill, Libertarian-credo, know-nothing emotional approach. I get tired of hearing such crap.
I really feel the leaders in this reform should be physicians, such as this Dr. McCoy.
No arguments here one way or another today, only a question born of curiosity. At the two hospitals nearest me where I have direct experience, no one is denied care at the ER - insurance or not.
The same is true in at least some of the Houston hospitals - and not only those in the county system charged with indigent care.
I'd assumed that was common around the country, and the reason that ERs are being overrun for primary care that should be taken care of elsewhere. The fact is, many uninsured here go directly to the ERs because it's the only place to get care. One of the building resentments here is that so many cross the border from Mexico precisely to receive free medical care in our hospitals, while providing nothing to support the system.
Linda, it's a good question, and although I can't document it, I fear it might have happened.
But if an insurance-less person is treated in ER, I wonder what becomes of their bill, which must in many cases be unpayable.
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