Off topic, but not really, here’s a good post on the Obama administration’s recent pledge on food safety.
The battle on the national health-care system is clearly heating up in Washington. Although the term health-care reform has been used often by the new administration, to me it’s unclear exactly what type of reform – if any – will take place. Or how the country will pay for it. And from this week’s events if the administration is really on the same page instead of just in the same book regarding the issue.
Washington — In an effort to help pay for a potential $1-trillion dollar health care reform bill, Vice President Joe Biden announced a new deal with three major hospital associations.
Those groups agreed to take about $155-billion dollars less from Medicare, Medicaid and subsidies over the next decade to help bring down health care costs.
The Obama administration is still hoping to gain support for a public option for health care.
Tuesday, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel hinted the public option was negotiable; only to be shot down quickly by President Barack Obama in Moscow.
The president released a statement saying, “One of the best ways to bring down costs, provide more choices, and assure quality is a public option that will force the insurance companies to compete.”
Democratic lawmakers are facing their own battles in Congress over another suggestion to raise cash by taxing health care benefits.
The White House is pushing Congress to deliver a health-care bill the president can sign before lawmakers leave for August recess. ABC News
There are three big reasons why I don’t see major reform or a form of universal health care entering the American society any time soon – let alone reaching Capitol Hill by August.
- The power of the insurance and pharmaceutical companies. They’re not just giving up that power. It’s going to take a lot to take them on. On this point, I have to agree with Bill Maher – Obama needs some of that Bush “It’smycountryidon’tcare whatyouthinki’mjustpassingishandyou’lljusthave todealwithitlatercuzwhocareswhatyouthinkanyway” attitude to make any real healthcare reform take place.
- The reaction of the public whenever an official price tag is associated with a proposed healthcare option. If it reaches the potential trillion dollar cost, that reaction might not be too pretty. Click here for an interesting analysis on this.
- Fighting in Congress on the issue. Whenever, if ever, a bill passes on health care, it’s going to take a lot of compromise, and there’s no telling what it’s going to take to pass some type of legislation. Or if the legislation will even have much reform in it at all once it makes it to a vote.
Any time the government takes over something like Healthcare its not a good thing.
I do not personally agree with it but changes have to be made.If anyone is having problems I found a resource that may help in these ruff economic times try http://www.einsteininsurancequotes.com.
@Jeff: Thanks for giving your POV. Changes def have to be made, but a big problem is that right now the health care industry is profit-based and gets more money when people are sick. Just keeping it the way it is will keep people ill and unable to access health care. It’s going to be a lot of debate over government-run health care, but to me, I’d rather have access to universal health care like many other countries.
Unfortunately, as the economy makes it harder for people to pay to go to the doctor/get treatment, it will also make it harder for the country to pay for a real health care reform option as well.
AMERICA’S NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY!
It’s official. America and the World are now in a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. A World EPIDEMIC with potential catastrophic consequences for ALL of the American people. The first PANDEMIC in 41 years. And WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES will have to face this PANDEMIC with the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed World.
STAND READY AMERICA TO SEIZE CONTROL OF YOUR NATIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
We spend over twice as much of our GDP on healthcare as any other country in the World. And Individual American spend about ten times as much out of pocket on healthcare as any other people in the World. All because of GREED! And the PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare system in America.
And while all this is going on, some members of congress seem mostly concern about how to protect the corporate PROFITS! of our GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT NATIONAL DISGRACE. A PRIVATE FOR PROFIT DISGRACE that is in fact, totally valueless to the public health. And a detriment to national security, public safety, and the public health.
Progressive democrats the Tri-Caucus and others should stand firm in their demand for a robust public option for all Americans, with all of the minimum requirements progressive democrats demanded. If congress can not pass a robust public option with at least 51 votes and all robust minimum requirements, congress should immediately move to scrap healthcare reform and request that President Obama declare a state of NATIONAL HEALTHCARE EMERGENCY! Seizing and replacing all PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance plans with the immediate implementation of National Healthcare for all Americans under the provisions of HR676 (A Single-payer National Healthcare Plan For All).
Coverage can begin immediately through our current medicare system. With immediate expansion through recruitment of displaced workers from the canceled private sector insurance industry. Funding can also begin immediately by substitution of payroll deductions for private insurance plans with payroll deductions for the national healthcare plan. This is what the vast majority of the American people want. And this is what all objective experts unanimously agree would be the best, and most cost effective for the American people and our economy.
In Mexico on average people who received medical care for A-H1N1 (Swine Flu) with in 3 days survived. People who did not receive medical care until 7 days or more died. This has been the same results in the US. But 50 million Americans don’t even have any healthcare coverage. And at least 200 million of you with insurance could not get in to see your private insurance plans doctors in 2 or 3 days, even if your life depended on it. WHICH IT DOES!
If President Obama has to declare a NATIONAL STATE OF EMERGENCY to rescue the American people from our healthcare crisis, he will need all the sustained support you can give him. STICK WITH HIM! He’s doing a brilliant job.
THIS IS THE BIG ONE!
THE BATTLE OF GOOD Vs EVIL!
Join the fight.
Contact congress and your representatives NOW! AND SPREAD THE WORD!
God Bless You
Jacksmith – WORKING CLASS