Healthcare Reform - Yes We Can Do Better

Written by: Michael A. Mundy on Mar 19, 2010 11:03 AM EDT

In a March 16, 2010 conversation with a friend since high school, I defended my opposition to the health care reform bill likely to be enacted by the US Congress and Barack Obama in a few days. To some, it's a welcome change after a century of intermittent attempts trying to effect such benefits across the American society. It may even be a possible Trojan horse, some contend eagerly, to bring about further changes necessary to remedy the highly fractured, inequitable and unjust US healthcare situation.

Advancing such sentiments are those viewing passage of this healthcare reform bill as a political necessity for a larger Democratic Party victory in the upcoming 2010 interim general elections. Undoubtedly, they find need for passage of this legislation vital in restoring their lowering political acceptance today, in contrast to election 2008, given the turmoil over the past year’s efforts framing healthcare reform.

Equally, we’ve witnessed political chicanery plummeting to new lows by reactionary political constituents, but it’s another manifestation of a dearth in effective and sincere political leadership on the part of the Obama administration and too many Democratic Congressional representatives like lemmings in tow. Permit a political vacuum on such a contentious and politically charged national issue and you’ve got a maddening circus with all types of characters and lunatics flying thorough the opening – be they Tea Party members or Republicans and Democrats playing selfishly to their uninformed constituents.

Needless I say, aware or not, many arguing passage today are in sync with the political calculus, machinations and spin which find them touting a bill 'stinking to high heavens' and one in all probability certain not to achieve meaningful and sustainable healthcare reform. Unless health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and hospital systems and other surrogate healthcare providers are the intended beneficiaries – the former three with whom Barack Obama personally negotiated back room deals to the collective detriment of future American society. Yes, with one industry group who since saw fit during these sensitive times to increase health insurance premiums as high as 39% over the past few weeks – and without cause beyond greater profitability and their unchecked market power to do so.

Lacking in the forthcoming legislation is universal solution to poor access to medical care, addressing improving the quality of medical care, or costs containment so desperately needed as healthcare spending continues on an upward trajectory from 18% of annual GDP today - $2.5 trillion annually- and estimated to approach 25% in 5 years hence. These forecasted results are before the added and unnecessary burdensome giveaways of many tens of billions of US dollars annually being legislated to the benefit of the aforementioned players with one major added bonus for them - a mandated individual insurance market provision similar to the Massachusetts plan and sure to balloon competitors’ market shares and already ungodly profits. The latter position, against which, Barack Obama correctly opposed during the election campaign. Little benefit, however, shall come to 'the people' as already evidenced under similar policies already failing in other jurisdictions.

But such is the political appetite and climate as the nation grapples with pronouncement of one myth after another whilst the fabric of the American society is being ripped apart daily. No longer are their unequivocal demands for facts or astute analysis and policy making information and decisions. Instead, too many Democrats argue fear of the next political boogeyman [or bogeywoman with Sarah Palin's face in the Republican Party's mix]. Now they posit return of Republicans to power as a primacy point of concern, thus their acceptance and ill-argued positions justifying passage of the forthcoming "health reform" bill in its current form.

The notion of demanding and pressuring politically for proper legislation sure to bring about better and more favorable future national and political outcomes is lost on the many now obsessed with justifying a bill which in all likelihood shall defer achieving required meaningful healthcare reform for generations to come. Sadly, when the issue is so well studied, understood and the policy solutions are before us once special interests concerns are abandoned. But like the disgraceful Wall Street and financial industry’s bad policymaking by the Obama administration - on the heels of George W. Bush's administration and their complicit shenanigans - they're once more playing to big money powers who increasingly control US healthcare delivery and financing and the huge rewards it affords them. 

Unfortunately, that this healthcare reform legislation does not take effect for several years to come is equally lost in the maddening rush for the bill’s passage to gain political advantage though not one prescribing proper treatment for the grossly sick American healthcare condition. Need I reiterate, many are unaware it shall not take effect during the current Obama administration. And, were he not to be granted a second term in the White House, he shall not oversee its implementation. Furthermore, some 15-20 million Americans shall remain without healthcare coverage under the plan, down from 47 million people today.

Yes, more people are uninsured in the lower portion of the North American continent than the neighboring population of Canada. And, yes, there are more people without medical care coverage in the US today than the entire country of France - population 44 million and with the best healthcare system in the world. And, that glaring fact at a fraction of the  US healthcare costs per individual. And, yes, even with France now facing upward trends in future healthcare costs as a nation - America now spends almost twice as much as France per individual. 

Indeed, the eyes of too many apologists are now focused on the upcoming 2010 mid-term US elections at the expense of proper policymaking and legislation efforts. To those arguing focus on such folly as vital political necessity, may I remind you that US President Lyndon B. Johnson saw fit to enact Medicare some 44 years ago in a more contentious society and opposition. He did so with presidential resolve and determination whilst whipping his fellow Democratic Party member legislators to support the enactment of that outstanding and revered legislation to this day.

Regrettably, Barack Obama was provided an equal or better political climate and support to deliver a widened similar benefit for the entire society but instead proffers a reform plan highlighting a lack of audacity, courage or commitment with words which shall prove futile with the passage of time. It's a sad realization that such a long welcome opportunity could be so highly prostrated by one arguing for change and, more so, without wholesale revolt demanding equity and justice underlie its development. I suggest those are the guiding principles many of this legislation's supporters should be concerning themselves with rather than their apparent political expedience interests.

That Dennis Kucinich now buys into the proposition demonstrates the power of corporatists and a primary concern with their own party's self interests. Rational, we may applaud them, but at whose expense is the bigger issue. One more fact worth considering, US individual medical insurance plans have proven to be a nightmare and rip off these few past years to the chagrin of millions of Americans.

We Can DO Better...Where Is The Will?

Michael A. Mundy, MBA, MPH

Tags: