Healthcare "Reform" Hurts AZ Pt. I
By Rep. Nancy Barto (R-Legislative District 7)
Congress’ Healthcare “Reform” bill is a mere handful of votes shy of passage.
Far from achieving the objectives of providing healthcare to all Americans and lowering costs, Arizona citizens can count on these outcomes instead:
Fundamental change in the standard of care. While more people may technically be “covered,” over-utilization of services will lead to longer waits for health care and inevitable rationing of care.
Not to worry, though. The bill plans for this.
A 15-member health commission, much like those in countries with similar nationalized healthcare, will have extraordinary powers to dictate what is covered, for whom and how it will be paid for.
This change will bring a fundamental shift to our system - from doctors providing medical treatment based upon whether it is safe and effective to a cost-effectiveness standard.
Trust between the doctor and patient will be compromised as patients question in whose best interest their doctor may be acting. Reducing medical care to a commodity-driven business model places every patient’s life at the mercy of a panel’s worthiness criteria.
Being denied care or waiting to see your primary care physician, or obtain diagnostic tests results in inferior medical outcomes and higher mortality rates, such as are evidenced in Canada and the U.K. Why these outcomes are not an integral part of the healthcare debate is troubling.
There is a reason medical tourism is booming business in the U.S. We have the best medical care in the world.
Most other nations, especially those with nationalized healthcare, lack what it takes to be the best – a system that rewards the best – the best hospitals, the best surgeons, the best drug therapies available.
Is it a coincidence that the incentives in medicine drive medical innovation? Changing the incentives will also drive physicians out of the profession as they will no longer be caring for patients, but delivering treatment according to formula.
Practicing physicians will be further negatively affected by this bill as it does not address a major cause of rising costs of health care: medical malpractice lawsuits.
An AMA survey reported 93% of physicians report practicing defensive medicine, costing the U.S. $865 billion in indirect costs. Instead, the plan rewards states that ignore this issue and withholds funding from those that cap non-economic damages and pass other tort reforms.
Under the current system people are divorced from health care cost considerations since a third party – either an employer or insurance – is managing them. Fixing this disconnect is key to promoting an economically and physically fit citizenry.
In other words, people taking responsibility for their health, staying well and spending their healthcare dollars wisely. Instead, Congress’ plan emulates failing government programs that do just the opposite. The result is an unsustainable Medicare system with a $38 trillion liability...
Congress’ Healthcare “Reform” bill is a mere handful of votes shy of passage.
Far from achieving the objectives of providing healthcare to all Americans and lowering costs, Arizona citizens can count on these outcomes instead:
Fundamental change in the standard of care. While more people may technically be “covered,” over-utilization of services will lead to longer waits for health care and inevitable rationing of care.
Not to worry, though. The bill plans for this.
A 15-member health commission, much like those in countries with similar nationalized healthcare, will have extraordinary powers to dictate what is covered, for whom and how it will be paid for.
This change will bring a fundamental shift to our system - from doctors providing medical treatment based upon whether it is safe and effective to a cost-effectiveness standard.
Trust between the doctor and patient will be compromised as patients question in whose best interest their doctor may be acting. Reducing medical care to a commodity-driven business model places every patient’s life at the mercy of a panel’s worthiness criteria.
Being denied care or waiting to see your primary care physician, or obtain diagnostic tests results in inferior medical outcomes and higher mortality rates, such as are evidenced in Canada and the U.K. Why these outcomes are not an integral part of the healthcare debate is troubling.
There is a reason medical tourism is booming business in the U.S. We have the best medical care in the world.
Most other nations, especially those with nationalized healthcare, lack what it takes to be the best – a system that rewards the best – the best hospitals, the best surgeons, the best drug therapies available.
Is it a coincidence that the incentives in medicine drive medical innovation? Changing the incentives will also drive physicians out of the profession as they will no longer be caring for patients, but delivering treatment according to formula.
Practicing physicians will be further negatively affected by this bill as it does not address a major cause of rising costs of health care: medical malpractice lawsuits.
An AMA survey reported 93% of physicians report practicing defensive medicine, costing the U.S. $865 billion in indirect costs. Instead, the plan rewards states that ignore this issue and withholds funding from those that cap non-economic damages and pass other tort reforms.
Under the current system people are divorced from health care cost considerations since a third party – either an employer or insurance – is managing them. Fixing this disconnect is key to promoting an economically and physically fit citizenry.
In other words, people taking responsibility for their health, staying well and spending their healthcare dollars wisely. Instead, Congress’ plan emulates failing government programs that do just the opposite. The result is an unsustainable Medicare system with a $38 trillion liability...