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Universal Coverage First
Why universal coverage first? Because I believe that our society must address this very basic human need for all. Our health-care system has tremendous potential to improve health-care outcomes -- and ultimately the quality of life -- for so many of our citizens. Yet this potential cannot be fully unleashed when too many resources are consumed by administrative, clinical and financial processes that contribute little to improving health outcomes. Many of these processes are the byproducts of incremental change in our health-care system built up over time. They reflect our society's imperfect solution to balancing the competing priorities of access, cost and quality.
Why universal coverage first? Because I believe that we, as patients, practitioners, employers, and government need to redirect our efforts to the most important matters of quality and cost. We need to move beyond the systemic realities of cost-shifting among patients, providers, payers and government which are holding our health system's potential hostage. Our collective efforts should be rededicated to better understand the value of specific health-care inventions (prevention, diagnosis and treatment) on the quality of our patients' lives. This will be no small task as we are now confronting major questions about the overall consumption of health-care services -- especially as the population ages -- and such consumptions' impact on our economy now and in the future.
Why universal coverage first? Because I believe that my patients will ultimately benefit from such a policy change. As a practicing physician, I hear from my patients every day about present-day concerns about health insurance and access to health care. Especially in these difficult economic times, many patients worry they will become too sick that they will lose their jobs and, hence, their health insurance. Other patients of mine cannot qualify for health insurance and are very limited in where they can go for medical care. So, I will continue to advocate for such policy change on behalf of my patients if universal coverage will help solve my patients' basic right to access quality, affordable basic health care and a stable medical home.
By
Raymond Martins
|
June 11, 2009; 10:52 AM ET
| Category:
Health Care Reform
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Posted by: majcsmith | June 21, 2009 12:42 AM
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do not side with big business and the insurance companies and pers drug companies.....side with the AMERICAN PEOPLE AND BARACK OBAMA .........THAT IS THE REASON HE WAS ELECTED...WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTHCARE IN OUR COUNTRY. AMERICA WILL MAKE THE PLAN WORK...WE WILL NOT LET IT FALTER...HAVE FAITH IN AMERICANS AGAIN.
Posted by: STANTONCAROL | June 14, 2009 8:45 AM
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I AGREE HEALTH CARE IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW; IF PEOPLE ARE HAVEING PROBLEMS NOW.....SOON THE BOOMERS WILL BE HERE AND IT WILL BE 10 X HARDER.....
THIS IS OUR PLACE AND CHANCE IN HISTORY TO
MAKE A CHANGE IN HEALTHCARE AND TO HELP THOSE AMERICANS IN NEED....WE HELPED THE WALL STREET, BANKS, CEO'S WHO MADE BAD DECISIONS, AND MORTGAGE COMPANIES WHO PUSHED THOSE BAD DEALS TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC....NOW WE HAVE TO HELP THE PEOPLE.
DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK ON AMERICA AND ITS PEOPLE FOR THE SAKE OF BUSINESS...BECAUSE WITHOUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE...BUSINESS HAS NOTHING.
Posted by: STANTONCAROL | June 14, 2009 8:19 AM
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The comments to this entry are closed.
Sir, I respectfully disagree with the (false) argument you make. Health care is a responsibility not a right. Show me the passage in the US Constitution that says you have the right to force me to pay for your health care. The US Government was not designed to provide individual services that's why is does so very poorly when it trys. Medicare and Medicade are fast going broke. FIXING THEM and PROVING the can be run effectively should be FIRST. Unit that is done, everything the Government says about health care is a LIE!!!!!!!!!!!