Now that the House has passed health reform legislation, we have something to be more concerned about than the legislation itself. We know it was a bad bill! In listening to the debate in the House, many members criticized the legislation indicating that it was flawed, but said that they were going to vote for it anyway. The thinking that passing a bad bill is better than passing nothing at all is difficult to comprehend. This type of philosophy is even less valid when the entire House of Representatives had the opportunity to make the bill better before passage. During the House debate, many members of the minority party urged the other party to join with them in making the legislation better, but were ignored. I heard no one express opposition to health care reform.
The concern we now have is more serious than the flawed legislation. We have a polarized Congress that has lost the ability to produce quality work because of thier inability to cooperate with one another. Also of great concern is that Congress is ignoring the will of the citizens. It was made clear through many different sources that most Americans desired health care reform, but not the legislation that was passed by the House. I would venture to say that most Americans today feel that they are not represented, and that their voice does not matter. It was completely possible to return to the table and re-create a health bill that most Americans and Congress could support, but that did not happen. Congress gets a failing grade on this one. Therefore, no one, including the President, has a reason to celebrate victory! Failure to provide the best possible for the citizens of this country does not deserve any pats on the back!
The North Carolina State Grange is an advocate for transparency, fair play, and ethical behavior. If all members of Congress and the President had observed each of these important concepts, there is no doubt that that we would be celebrating the passage of a much better health bill than we now have.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Health Reform or Insurance Reform?
Based on polling information, it appears that most Americans oppose efforts by the President and Congress to reform healthcare. Why? Perhaps it is because most of us have health coverage that we are satisfied with. On the other hand, maybe Americans do not trust the President and Congress to do it right, for fear that they could make things worse rather than better.
A problem that I see in all of this is that the focus for reform is directed to the insurers. The health care industry encompasses a broad range of business and industry, all of which are making a profit. Yet, when the President and many members of Congress address the issue, they focus on insurance company profits. They leave the impression that it is okay for all entities tied in with the health industry to make a profit except for insurance companies. Increased costs among all of these health related entities can lead to more expensive medical claims for the insurance companies to pay. However, our leadership is trying to portray health insurers as the bad guys!
True health care reform should include all business entities associated with the health care industry, because they all contribute to the cost of health care. For example, in addition to insurance company scrutiny, perhaps Congress should also consider profits made by medical equipment manufacturers, hospitals, doctors, drug companies, and many others. Congress should also examine the profits that lawyers receive in addition to settlement amounts on malpractice lawsuits.
It has been implied that insurance company profits are excessive and their policies abusive.
In some cases this may be true, but probably not for the majority. Isn't it possible that there could be abuses in other parts of the industry?
It is okay for all of the businesses associated with health care to make a profit. It is not okay to focus on a single entity which in this case is insurance companies, and hold them accountable for the rest of the industry.
Americans are right to be skeptical and fearful of what Congress might do. While some health reform is needed, we would be better off for Congress to abandon the effort than to do it wrong!
A problem that I see in all of this is that the focus for reform is directed to the insurers. The health care industry encompasses a broad range of business and industry, all of which are making a profit. Yet, when the President and many members of Congress address the issue, they focus on insurance company profits. They leave the impression that it is okay for all entities tied in with the health industry to make a profit except for insurance companies. Increased costs among all of these health related entities can lead to more expensive medical claims for the insurance companies to pay. However, our leadership is trying to portray health insurers as the bad guys!
True health care reform should include all business entities associated with the health care industry, because they all contribute to the cost of health care. For example, in addition to insurance company scrutiny, perhaps Congress should also consider profits made by medical equipment manufacturers, hospitals, doctors, drug companies, and many others. Congress should also examine the profits that lawyers receive in addition to settlement amounts on malpractice lawsuits.
It has been implied that insurance company profits are excessive and their policies abusive.
In some cases this may be true, but probably not for the majority. Isn't it possible that there could be abuses in other parts of the industry?
It is okay for all of the businesses associated with health care to make a profit. It is not okay to focus on a single entity which in this case is insurance companies, and hold them accountable for the rest of the industry.
Americans are right to be skeptical and fearful of what Congress might do. While some health reform is needed, we would be better off for Congress to abandon the effort than to do it wrong!
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