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Let's get it done
"America prevailed because we chose to move forward as one nation, as one people," President Obama explained in his State of the Union address as he reflected on history.
He later said that Americans today perceive that Washington seems unable or unwilling to solve the middle class's problems.
Too right, Mr. President. Based on the latest polls, the American people want Democrats and Republicans to get to "yes" on jobs and the economy.
Don't give up. Don't quit, Congress.
Jobs are certainly the No. 1 focus, the President said. But we know that more businesses are dropping health insurance, and small businesses -- the engine of job growth in this country -- more often than not simply cannot afford to cover health care in today's insurance market.
The President wants to fix problems that hamper the nation's economic growth. One of the key constraints on growth is health care costs. The Congressional Budget Office said today that spending on Medicare and Meciaid are the "single greatest threat" to the nation's budget stability. Last year, higher unemployment drove up Medicaid spending by 9 percent. Outlays on Medicare grew by 10 percent. Both of these growth rates exceeded those seen in the past decade.
Our health care cost and access challenges must be dealt with, not next year, but now.
The President said, "Here's what I ask Congress: don't walk away from reform now that we are so close. Let us find a way to come together for the American people. Let's get it done."
Please, just do so. The dots directly connect between health care costs, jobs and the economy today, and for the health of the national budget in the long run.
By
Jane Sarasohn-Kahn
|
January 27, 2010; 8:37 PM ET
| Category:
Health Care Reform
,
Health costs
,
Presidential leadership
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Posted by: bkearney | January 28, 2010 1:01 PM
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Dysfunctional Congress:
The President said, "Here's what I ask Congress: don't walk away from reform now that we are so close. Let us find a way to come together for the American people. Let's get it done."
I agree. Like many I have been appalled and shamed by many of the recent actions by our national Congress members, particularly on health care issues. I believe we need to provide health care for all our citizens. Presently, any legislation providing that seems to be in danger. Meanwhile, the US still ranks 31st among nations in life expectancy, although those over 65 and on Medicare live longer than the average in industrialized countries. Uninsured hospitalized children are still 60 percent more likely to die than insured hospitalized children. Uninsured, poor citizens are still dying for lack of health care.
The mandate that hospitals must admit and treat the severely ill uninsured is not health care; it is more like end-of-life care, simply unacceptable from both a moral and societal view. Real health care for these 30 million people should result in decreasing society costs. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
The present senate bill costs about $90 billion per year, about 4% of the 2008 US total yearly expenditure of $2.3 trillion for health care (http://www.cms.hhs.gov). The whole game is to redistribute that other 96% so there is a net decrease in overall cost. It’s not rocket science. If that is too difficult, let’s streamline the bill and try a 2%-98% split. If that does not work, we should: vote against all incumbents in the next elections, refuse to contribute money to any political party or cause, and boycott any corporation that contributes to political parties.