Small step for Nancy, big step for reform

I commend House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for pushing on with health-care reform. We need more politicians like her who are not daunted by opposition. Taking small steps now is the best maneuver in continuing the process and working towards a final bill. Repealing McCarran-Ferguson is a good first step if the plan is to include private insurance companies. We have all seen what can happen without federal regulation in key industries serving Americans. The real question though is whether Americans are best served by an industry when it comes to health care.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) sites 2007 figures that show that the United States spends over $7,000 per capita on health care and yet doesn't cover all Americans. This figure includes both private and government spending. Canada, the United Kingdom and other countries with universal health care spend around $4,500 per capita. These countries provide insurance coverage for all of their citizens. Their people are healthier and statistics show they live longer than Americans. More consideration needs to be given to what role the private insurance industry plays in creating this huge gap in costs. Reform needs to address this and continue to promote a public option.

Even so, health-care reform is more than just an important issue in America right now; it's a necessity. If taking small steps is the only way to get there, then it's time to take the first one.

By Kathy-Ellen Kups  |  February 5, 2010; 8:57 AM ET Save & Share:                 
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