RSS Feed
Lessons from 1965
As the tortured negotiations for a broader and more inclusive health-care system work their way through the executive branch and Congress, it is perhaps wise to look back at what a committed government, in sync with its voters, can successfully accomplish in the realm of health-care reform and Medicare.
In 1965, this country took a bold leap forward, despite the opposition of many people on both sides of the legislative aisle and most of the professional health-care community, in creating universal health-care coverage and access for those 65 years of age and the permanently disabled. Overnight, the millions of elders without the means to seek health care could do so.
The results have been staggering. While much is made of our longer life spans due to better medicines and treatment options, little is said about the large numbers of older Americans who are alive into their 70s and 80s because they have access to medical innovations and preventive care through Medicare. Then-critics such as the American Medical Association are now Medicare champions. With the inclusion of a recent drug benefit, even the pharmaceutical companies are now among Medicare's supporters.
What we need to do is to learn from Medicare in creating a new and expanded health-care system. Medicare has brought down health-care costs and pioneered approaches to assigning cost for the delivery of medicine and the private sector has based their cost on the Medicare model. Who said government can't get it right!
We did it right in 1965, even with some mistakes. We have told the world that we love and respect our elders and that they have access to the best health care in the world. That is something all of us can be proud of.
By
Martis Davis
|
June 30, 2009; 1:27 PM ET
| Category:
Health Care Reform
Share This: 
Technorati
| Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
Previous: A Neighborhood Model for Smarter Care |
Next: Prevention: A Healthy Tool that Works
Posted by: lensch | July 1, 2009 11:33 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The comments to this entry are closed.
The President says we have to take incremental steps. Medicare for All IS an incremental step. Step one was Medicare for the highest risk pool, old fogies like me. Step 2 is Medicare for everybody else which is actually easier because it does not cost any more (see below). Step 3 would be more efficient medical practice.
The main reason that it is far better to extend Medicare to everyone is cost. Private insurance companies waste about $400 Billion each year in high overhead and unnecessary requirements on physicians. There is another $100 Billion wasted on high drug prices to companies that spend 3 times as much on "marketing" as on R & D. This $500 Billion each year can be used to pay for the extension of Medicare to everyone.If you simply add a public plan, you are leaving the $500 Billion on the table. You are simply adding cost.