|
[Previous entry: "Bush: Democracy, Democracy Everywhere"] [Blog Home] [Next entry: "Holy Corruption!"]
01/04/2006 Entry:
A Universal Healthcare Compromise
Both conservatives and liberals agree that our current healthcare system is a mess. They disagree on the merits of possible solutions. Conservatives want to shift resposibility and costs directly to each individual, while liberals want the government to shoulder the task of providing healthcare to all Americans. I propose a compromise of a Universal Healthcare System that has both conservative and liberal elements.
It heartened me to find that some conservatives are recommending a healthcare system that covers ALL Americans. Hank McKinnell, chairman and CEO of Pfizer Inc, a top-notch pharmaceutical company, wrote a book called "A Call to Action - Taking Back Healthcare for Future Generations," in which he says:
"At a minimum, the system I envision requires that no American should lack access to healthcare because he or she lacks the ability to pay for it, and that no American should suffer significant financial distress or personal bankruptcy as a result of unpaid medical bills."
OK. Conservatives and liberals agree that our system of healthcare should cover everyone. They disagree on the means for achieving this goal. Their disagreement takes place primarily in three areas: who pays, how to control costs and how to improve the system.
- WHO PAYS - Conservatives say that employers are stuck holding the bag for ever-increasing employee healthcare costs; it's time for employees and individuals in general to be responsible for payment. Liberals counter that this is not fair; either employers or the government should pay healthcare costs for all
- COST CONTROL - McKinnell raves against cost control and government regulation. He is in favor of competition, which he feels can be achieved with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) that may be used in a competitive medical market. This is his way of controlling costs. Liberals worry that with HSAs, high-earning patients will do well whereas low-earning or non-earning patients will be dispossessed. They prefer a single-payer system that guarantees payment to all patients. By the way, for those biased against government, the Issues in Science and Technology magazine tells us that, contrary to what many believe:
"Looking back over the period from 1970 to 1997, Medicare's cost containment performance has been better than that of private insurance."
- SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT - Conservatives dwell on malpractice reform. By making malpractice suits more difficult to do and by capping awards they think they will improve the system. Liberals say that malpractice suits are needed to recover damages for those who have been victimized. We must agree though, says McKinnell, that malpractice law is too adversarial, increases costs and does not satisfy anyone. He prefers a new non-adversarial Medical Court System
I hate McKinnell's HSAs but I love his Medical Court. This set me to thinking. Maybe we can build a healthcare system that has both conservative and liberal elements, the kind that could be enacted by Congress. Here is my first try at a compromise for a Universal Healthcare System:
- SINGLE PAYER - Conservatives want the health burden removed from employers. Liberals would be ready to do this if employees are not subjected to the tentacles of insurance companies. The government should be the single payer for smooth, simplified operation
- VOUCHER SYSTEM - Conservatives may think that a single-payer system would do away with competition. This can be tempered with a voucher issued each year to each person - a different amount for each, depending on the subject's health. The patient then spends the money in a competitive medical market
- MEDICAL COURT - This is a terrific idea which everybody should be in favor of. Instead of a system where the patient fights with his doctor and which allows medical transgressions to be hidden, we could have a non-adversarial system where all people involved work together to compensate victims, sanction incompetents, decrease medical mistakes and improve medical outcomes in the future. Associated with this new Medical Court System would be a Medical Information System to advance medical knowhow
This is my suggestion for a practical Universal Healthcare System that could be enacted by Congress. What do you think?
|
