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Dr Shapiro completed his undergraduate education at UC San Diego earning a B S in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and a B A in Political Science He furthered his education at UCLA where he earned a Masters Degree in Public…
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Health Care Reform: What's the Status?
As I wish I had some great insight as to the current direction of U.S. health care reform, I must admit I do not. Just like many of you, my updates come from the newspaper, the internet, and maybe a medical journal or two that come across my desk. But as we head into a month where the H1N1 influenza (AKA swine flu) and its soon to be released vaccine is dominating the medical headlines, I thought I might give a rather brief overview of where health care reforms stands this first week in October.
So grabbing the major highlights, let me try to decipher where things stand in Washington these days. Over this past weekend, in the wee hours of Saturday, the Democrats of the Senate Finance Committee completed a health care reform bill appealing to hopefully the greatest audience yet. From what I've gathered, it would help ensure medical insurance for many Americans who don't already have it and prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to those in poor health. If it passes through Finance Committee this week, it then moves on to the Senate floor...where the real fun begins.
I say this because the Senate Democrats will then try blending it with a previously designed one by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. This is the one that would permit the government to sell medical insurance. The Finance Committee version would not...obviously a major sticky point and one that doesn't appear the Senate would favor anyway. But guess what, the House of Representatives does. Both have different thoughts on where the funding is to come from (too much to cover here but safe to assume just about everyone...the wealthy, employers, Medicare recipients, etc.). And of these three plans, all have different stances as to whether employers need to offer coverage to their employees.
But please don't let my cynicism deter you from my hope that something good will come from this. What it is is not exactly clear but a few major themes will probably find their way through the debate over the next couple of months: employer sponsored insurance plans are not going anywhere, exchanges will describe those entities where the self-employed and those working for a company that doesn't provide health insurance can purchase health insurance...the government will be involved with this, and Medicaid will be expanded to cover more low-income people.
And my request as a physician...as your child's pediatrician...is pretty straight-forward...please allow me to provide best medical care I can provide for your child.
Dr. Jeremy
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Displaying comments 25-6 of 25
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I hope something good comes out of this.
Thanks for giving us insight into how healthcare reform relates to you personally.
Jason
http://www.jrsmedical.com
Jason
[URL=http://www.jrsmedical.com]JRS Medical Supplies[/url]
My mother taught me to always negotiate with your insurance company and doctors and save money. Sadly hours on the phone always saves you money. This is yet another problem with our heath care system.
Jason
JRS Medical Supplies
With all due respect, please reference your statement that "45% of American doctors have stated they would consider getting out of the profession if ObamaCare is forced upon them".
According to a survey done by Mount Sinai School of Medicine, who polled 2,130 doctors nearly 75 percent polled favored a public option. 63 percent favored a public and private option. 10 Percent favored a public option only and 27 percent wanted private insurance only.
Personally, I doubt that those who have spent years, at a huge cost in college fees, etc., to earn the title M.D., are going to leave their chosen profession should a public option take place.
From the above poll mentioned, they would welcome it.
BUT - BEWARE Our Tories (Your Republicans), whatever they say, ensured a second class system where those that could paid for the best and the NHS was run down. The old were left to die on hospital trolleys and denied surgery.
It IS a political matter whatever those in power say.
I see that many Americans are suspicious of such a system. Such is the indoctrination of media. Done with skill and care what could possibly be better???????????????
OMG I just read through some comments.
HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO BE WELL?????? THIS SHOULD NOT BE CONTROLLED BY BUSINESS (WHO WILL ALWAYS SEEK PROFIT) WAKE UP GUYS. HEALTHCARE IS A RIGHT FOR ALL. FOR ALL, HOW CAN THIS BE UP FOR DEBATE????? "NO, I WANT TO PAY, IT'S BETTER THAT WAY!!!! SAY WHAT??????
And by the way, the only right to medical care you have in Canada is the right to get on a waiting list. If you call that health care. You can get that in the USA right now, too. Ontario has just quit paying for the most effective cancer treatment for colo-rectal cancer, right in the middle of the treatment cycle for current patients. So what if it works? It costs too much so you cant have it. And private insurance is forbidden here, as is paying cash, so if you have cash you can go to the States and get treated. Where will Canadians go when the USA is in the same boat?
I know you guys do not want to hear that socialist medicine is not the Gravy Train to the Big Rock Candy Mountain -- you never want to hear that socialism has never worked anywhere it has ever been tried. But just remember that if the government can force doctors to provide you with something you believe is a RIGHT, they can force YOU to provide so-called Rights for somebody else. You refuse to believe this will ever happen to you because all that matters to you is that You Get Yours and you dont care who has to pay. You will only learn the hard way.
Good luck.
Medical insurance companies earn a LOT of money. I would imagine there's some rich powerful people not very happy at Obama's proposal who would do anything to stop him. Very sad.
Everyone needs to be insured, no question about it, but when one hears it is going to be "affordable", just whose idea of "affordable" is it anyway? It is a fact that those over 60 will have four times the premiums of someone in their 20's. Those pretty much at the poverty level will be granted subsidies. And where do those subsidies come from? Not from drug companies, etc., but, in the long run, from you and I, folks..... Now, I don't mind paying my share of this, but not if it's going to line the pockets of CEO's and medical goods providers!
Those fortunate enough to be in a high income bracket will have an easier time paying premiums and won't feel the pinch. It is those caught in the middle that from what I can see will have the hardest time of it, should the Baucaus bill be enacted.
I think the majority of doctors truly care about their patients and what happens to them. I had an appointment with my pulmonologist the other day. I had to wait some in the examining room while I heard him talk to representatives from drug companies. When he came in to see me, he apologized and explained that although he might rather spending his time not seeing the representatives, he gets samples from them. He told me that this amounts to about $40,000 a year in meds he can pass on to his patients that need it, free of charge. Bless him.
My bottom line is I feel without a public option, it will be a boon for insurance companies. They will have a ready market, which cannot refuse it and once again more huge profits to be made, for even if they do not deny coverage they can possibly raise the premiums - much like was done with credit cards and their interest rates.
I also feel that no congressperson nor senator should be allowed to accept campaign contributions from health insurance corporations (or maybe any corporation for that matter).....too many are in the back pockets of these companies.
Sigh.
I am angry at the numerous emails that have come around, even to me here in England, that state -- as if it were the truth, and it IS NOT THE TRUTH! -- that those over 59 cannot get heart operations because they are considered too old to be worth it.
I had an aortic valve replacement at the age of 55 (not quiet 3 yrs ago), and the woman across from me in the ward was 76! She was a diabetic. and had not only a valve replaced, but a triple bypass as well! Does that sound like the NHS (National Health Service) tosses out the "elderly"? There were others in their 80's, too!
Most health care is free, to a degree. There are many who have a co-pay for each med, but there is a pre-paid plan that offers quiet a discount if one has several meds a month. Each medication costs a bit over £6.50 each, per month (at the current exchange rate, that is equal to $10.37 USD) However, certain meds automatically are exempt from charge, like thyroid tablets and such.
I am not saying it is terrific here, but I know that things are far from perfect in the US as well. My heart issues began in November 2002, when my heart valve problem was first detected. Fine while I had health coverage through work, sure. But I was laid off, and could barely afford the COBRA payments.
Then when my unemployment ran out, forget it! Where was I to find $300 a month for insurance, PLUS the outrageous copy for each doc visit and the meds I needed? Local social workers could not even direct me to any place that could provide assistance! Obscene, to say the least -- I had worked and paid taxes for years, never on welfare or any other benefits, and this is how I am treated as an American citizen? Illegals can come in, get help, but I couldn't?
Something is wrong with this picture, Folks!
Thank God I happened to meet an Englishman and we married! Although I didn't know I would need open heart surgery back then, I am so grateful to have had everything taken care of here.
What ever would I have done had I been in home country???
No, health care in the UK is not only for a privileged few -- and by the way, PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE is also available, for those who do not want to be on a waiting list. (If your condition is life-threatening, you don't wait anyway -- you are moved to the top and taken care of right away!)
I do hope the American Government sorts things out. No one should be denied health care, or lose their home and their savings because they cannot afford the insurance either.
If it happened to one of your family members, or a close friend, would it THEN hit home??
Its frustrating that last week the insurance employee told me that I had paid my deductible of 2,000.00, and I did not have to pay any more doctors visits for the rest of the year. I was happy of course. What they did not tell me is that I have to pay another 2000.00 for each one of my kids. I have three kids in total!!
How in hell I suppose to provide health insurance to my kids without going hungry????
I tried to apply for assistance, but as a single parent I make "too much money" according to them. :(