Cut the Politics-Let’s Get REAL with Health Care Reform

Cut the Politics-Let's Get REAL with Health Care Reform (Image from CBS News)

Health Care Reform, a quite complex array of pros and cons, government involvement, corporate ownership and emotional citizenry. Everyone has a take on it and within these past few weeks these highly vibrant responses has made it quite hard to understand what the reform is really about. I have searched endlessly listening to NPR speakers, reading several blogs and reading Rob and Meghan’s posts.  My personal stance is, the current system is proof that we need some what of a government lead direction however how much are we willing to hand over is at stake. I wanted to learn more about the work that Congress is doing with the legislation and I was disappointed to hear the house reached August recess and the senate is to follow. On the other hand, I realized that this is the perfect time to pause and learn about everything that has happened so far in the process.

I’m sitting in my living room looking at two pieces of paper that my mom showed me earlier today. The papers were faxed to her from the desk of Congressman Tom Price (R GA). My mom questioned if this could be a scam. I looked at the papers and on it is a message with my mother’s name and the subject as: New Advisors-Press Release. At first that is all I looked at, I tossed the papers aside saying this republican congressman probably wants to put you on a list so don’t bother. But tonight, I am intrigued by this and wanted to follow up on this not so mysterious fax papers. The fax cover letter has the following message printed in perfect hand writing (but definitely done by a computer):

(my mom’s name),

Because of your invaluable experience, we are asking you to represent Ohio as a consultant on the Physicians’ Council for Responsible Reform.

We’re running a press release to honor the achievements of you and other concerned physicians like you. Please call me with your approval (listed number).

I follow to the second page and things clear up even more. One thing I notice right away is the bottom of the page. There are a list of doctors names and in the middle column my mom’s name is there circled and handwritten-your name here. So maybe the republicans and more specifically the “physicians’ council for responsible reform” is really taking a stance by hearing from the real experts- I had hope. Yet, I once again used my handy google search engine to discover a much similar description of this letter on the Wonk Room. If you are not familiar with the Wonk Room it is a blog run project by the Center for American Progress. The Center for American Progress is a non-partisan run organization in Washington D.C. Coincidentally; I met with them a week ago while in D.C!

This was definitely what I suspected, that bit of hope died after I read the blog. Unfortunately, many congressional members both democrat and republican are using this time to recruit professionals for their list of credentials, while, what they really should be realizing that this is no time for the game of politics. SO END IT NOW. While they are there wanting to win one for the team, many of us uninsured or poorly insured are suffering with high payments and little improvement to our health. When you have doctors like my mother receiving letters like this of course they may not have the time to do the background research (they are doing more important things like seeing sick patients). So if Congress really wants to voice the stance of millions of health practitioners in the United States, they should start with a conjoined effort of gathering everyone for the talk- similar to the beer talk Obama recently had, except completely different story. I leave you with this, while you may be healthy now (knock on wood) and may not bother thinking about health care, think again:

Heart Disease-

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both women and men.

• In 2003, approximately 37% of adults reported having two or more of six risk factors for heart disease and stroke (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, current smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity).⁷
• It is estimated that about 47% of cardiac deaths occur before emergency services or transport to a hospital.⁴

Cancer-

According to the CDC, cancer is ranked the second leading cause of death in the United States. The total number of deaths estimated is at 559, 888, deaths per 100,000 population numbers at 187.0.

• Numbers of noninstitutionalized adults who have ever been diagnosed with cancer: 16.4 million
• Percent of noninstitutionalized adults who have ever been diagnosed with cancer: 7.3%

Diabetes-

Over 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes that’s over 7.8 percent of the population and this number is only growing(National Institute of Health). Out of the 23.6 million, 17.9 million are diagnosed where as 5.7 million are undiagnosed, without knowledge of their diabetes these 5.7 million will further deviate their health and lead them to death. The estimated cost of diabetes direct and indirect is $174 billion, the direct medical costs is at $116 billion.

• After adjusting for population age and sex differences, average medical expenditures among people with diagnosed diabetes were 2.3 times higher than what expenditures would be in the absence of diabetes.
• Indirect costs: $58 billion—disability, work loss, premature mortality

Blending Emotions with Logic

January 2003.  Step.  Plant.  Twist. Pop.  There goes the ACL and cartilage of the right knee.  Surgery, an immeasurable number of visits to the doctor, 6 months of intensive physical therapy: all culminating in a return to year round volleyball and soccer.  Ah but then, February 2004 came to pass.  Defense versus offense, illegal tackle from the side and there goes the ACL, PCL, meniscus, cartilage, femur and tibia of the left leg.  Another surgery, immeasurable number of visits to the doctor, 6 months of intensive physical therapy and a hopeful return to the aforementioned sports.  But alas, May 2005 rolls around.  Corrective surgery on the left knee. 

What role did my parents’ health insurance play in these three years of hell?  I was properly covered for the first two surgeries but I suppose a perfect 3 out of 3 was asking too much. The company incorrectly filed the bill for the third one under my name instead of my parents.  This immediately became problematic because it then appeared as if I was not covered and was consequently billed about 50,000 dollars for everything: to be paid out of pocket.  We have been battling with the insurance company for the past 3 years to get them to provide the coverage I was rightfully due but it has all been for  not.  As a result, my credit score is destroyed, I do not qualify for personal loans, my family has been toeing the bankruptcy line, and covering college tuition is daunting to say the least.  Furthermore, I, like many others, was no longer covered by my parents’ coverage 1 month after graduation.  After a series of tests immediately following graduation, I was diagnosed with neurocardinogenic syncope and prescribed a number of medications to help with this fainting problem.  At over 200 dollars a bottle do you think that I, as a recent college grad without a full time job, can afford such a bi-weekly bill? Do you think I can afford to purchase my own health care plan as of now?  No and no.  Therefore, I am not taking the prescribed medicine and simply hope that my fainting does not lead to a life threatening situation.  I have joined the millions of uninsured people in the most developed country in the world.  Congratulations on graduating from college, welcome to the real world.

The sharp blow of reality has truly unnerved me and caused me to side with those who believe a public health care policy has potential for working.  In attempts to evade stating the obvious, reform is needed, I turn to the Danish Health Care System as a model for what could be done with the United States own inadequate system.  As outlined by Karsten Vrangbaek, Associate Professor of Political Science at University of Copenhagen, “coverage is universal and compulsory…all those registered as residents in Denmark are entitled to health care that is largely free at the point of use”.  Professor Vrangbaek further details the what’s, who’s and how’s of the system. The most appealing feature of this system is the blend of private and public health insurance.  The public option pulls funds from a centrally-collected tax set at 8% of taxable income, which replaces proportional regional and property taxes.  The private option covers approximately 5% of the population and is mainly used as a fringe benefit offered by employers.  With a control over costs, methods to ensure quality of care, and programs instituted to ensure medical personnel are properly compensated, the Danish system serves as an ideal model which the United States should take into account in the health care debate.  I concede that Denmark, a population of 5.5 million, is minuscule compared to our country, but what is a model but a smaller version of what can be built on a larger scale?