Health Care Reform: A Year In Review

“Twas the morning  before Christmas

and all through DC.

Politicians were gathering,

To tackle the HC beast.”

Money, Drugs, & Physical Examination - nothing sexy. We're talking about Health Care Reform.

60 to 39, the Senate passed the Health Care reform legislation that has been hotly contested.

So where are we now in the path to reform?

-Introduce and pass a bill in the House? done

-Introduce and pass a bill in the Senate? painfully done

-Produce resolved bill that will be voted on in the House & Senate? current

-Have it signed into law by our esteemed president? bless the day when this will come

As I have written in earlier posts, let’s not kid ourselves – this will mean nothing if the House and Senate cannot resolve their versions of the bill while maintaining the supporters they have in their respective chambers.

But in the spirit of year-end reflections, let’s look at how this bill has addressed some of America’s concerns as the first pen touched paper (or fingers touched keys) in the drafting of language for the House Health Care reform bill:

Focusing on bipartisanship: True, the votes on the legislation in the House and Senate were largely on party lines. I would argue that in both chambers, the hand to work together was extended and Republicans played the stubborn child card, as if the broccoli would disappear if they just folded their arms and shook their heads long enough at the plate before them.  I say, if you have problems with the legislation, don’t sit back and say how no one has come to me and approached me.  If it is that serious to you, then you will have the resolve to go to the meeting room, go to the senior leaders in the Democratic party, and let your voice be heard.  Being in the minority is no excuse to sit on your hands – using the whole “they won’t listen to us anyway” mentality.

Reduce the costs of health care: Critics purport one thing, but when it comes down to it I refer to 1)  the NON-PARTISAN numbers posted by the Congressional Budget Office on costs over 10 years relative to savings and 2) economics – you don’t spend LESS when you are facing a recession, you try to encourage people to spend more.  One way to do that is to use  corrective forces that can alleviate the stresses of the market – i.e., the government.  The government needs to spend on health care reform to reduce already bloated health care spending.  This could free up disposable income for many Americans and give them confidence in spending dollars earned.  Of course health care isn’t everything – there is still high unemployment, housing market is shaky, economy is growing slower than expected; however, if the government was to let the “free market rule” in all economic sectors – it would correct itself, most likely – but not before weak businesses fall out of competition, other companies monopolize sectors of the industry,  Americans lose more jobs as companies look to maximize profits by reducing costs and compete, etc.

Expand coverage to all citizens. When Republicans and conservative critics complain about HC costs as the reason we were pursuing health care reform, I just shake my head.  The ultimate goal was about access to affordable health care.  The goal is to cover more people by making it less expensive for a person to have coverage – not reduce the federal budget, and hope it helps out people because government is spending less of their tax dollars on health care.  Not raising the deficit is critical – but the concentration should be on the people first.  Reduce the deficit elsewhere – Lord knows we can – and don’t pretend health care reform will send the budget spiraling out of control.

This year, we have accomplished something and we should not forget that. Dems tried bipartisanship, but didn’t let failed attempts impede them from passing legislation.  The legislation from both houses is predicted to cut costs over a ten year period according to nonpartisan sources.  The bills in both chambers will extend coverage to more Americans. And given the uphill battle against a stubborn minority, the two bills have both been produced before 2010.

I say its not perfect, but it is an achievement.

In case you need a reminder of just how important this legislation is, please read this article by “The New Republic” on health care as the greatest social reform of our generation

Popularity: 1% [?]