As we are distracted with photos of citizens shouting each other down and clawing their way through town hall meetings, it's tempting to start "taking sides". Certainly, the call in television shows asking people's opinions encourage just this sort of thing while calm news individuals provide disclaimers of "alleged", "apparent", or "just to be clear." Our divisiveness is a huge problem and overcoming our new tendency to dismiss all things of the other party, are there concerns? Yes and they are huge.
We have to get smarter than snappy one liners that may sting, may attract attention but are inadequate to either inspire consideration, change or even an ounce of respect. The signs that say "leave my healthcare alone" are the honest ones, people content with their health plans. But as we lash out at "big government" or perceived attacks on a mythical "free markets work" (because of course these citizens DO know that there is not now a free market as health providers and insurance companies reap the benefits of years of legislation enabling them to have the consumer bear the cost of the ever-increasing fees and procedures charged by health services providers and insurance companies), we are ignoring the real risks of health care overhaul...that it will make things worse for American patients.
It is of concern that the plan does not add a coverage and simultaneously do away with something that doesn't work. Trimming the expense of HIPAA for example, because that legislatiion has proven woefully inadequate in terms of privacy since we all know that in order to make a claim for coverage we have to waive our privacy.
It is of concern that there are no cost controls imposed on providers using the assumption and the hope that eventually prices for medical services will reflect the power of groups to negotiate superior rates of coverage for individuals. Fee schedules for medical services MUST go one of two ways: First providers must be limited in the increase in their charges for medical services or Second, insurance companies MUST be required to establish usual and customary charge rates that NEVER fall below 85% of what was ACTUALLY charged for a service. In the event that a charge is greater than 85% of what is established as usual and customary by an insurer (and therefore used as the number upon which reimbursement, deductible, and out of pocket expenses is calculated, an AUTOMATIC process should be begun by the government for criminal prosecution for price gouging should be initiated against the physician or other medical services provider).
It is of concern that there is no specific provision for insurance company mandates that when they sell high deductible plans with health savings accounts that the insurers, who charge an administrative fee for such plans be REQUIRED and therefore liable for withdrawals from such accounts that are not for health services, meaning that insurance companies must create and maintain auditing departments for such "savings" withdrawals.
It is of concern that there is no consideration of government sponsored health insurance plans so that the very Republican congressmen who talk to citizens arguing free market don't in fact reap the superior benefits of tax payer supported health plans for government workers that are so superior to the plans that American patients have as an option that protection of those plans cannot help but bias their approach...of course THEY want things to stay the same.
It is of concern that we have created an environment where physicians "threaten" not to practice if they don't get more money (which of course they did under Medicare adding 2% to their coffers with the option of more money for using "technology").
We're afraid...the government is afraid of alienating big insurance companies and physicians. Consumers are afraid that government will further erode access and quality to medical services. Government is afraid that their ongoing expensive benefits will be eroded if the citizens who pay for them are actually considered in the health services formula and out of that fear we've gotten...
a) people going bankrupt when they become ill b)bloated governmental programs that don't work, like HIPAA that are assumed to be untouchable c)Congressmen telling citizens to go it alone as they use superior health benefits year after year d)privacy rights that are mythical as insurance companies can ask for ANYTHING including the notes from your psychiatrist before paying you ever decreasing sums under your insurance contract e)preventive services like a check up or a screening that are "covered" while the options for services if you are ill are little to none f)hospitals that preserve their fees and raise their fees while reducing coverage for people who are insured by instituting systems of rating whether or not you should have come to a hospital and finally, for purposes here, g)people angrily, ignorantly, and desperately fighting one another instead of addressing common ground...we need to do something but that something shouldn't make things worse.
