The Right Prescription
Where's the Urgency on Health Care Reform?
So much for 11 months of hype, as the White House changes its tune.
President Obama has insisted throughout the year that waiting even one more year to pass a comprehensive reform of the American health care system would be devastating for American families. The need for change is urgent because, he has repeated, prices are rising so rapidly, and so many people are being denied coverage, that further delay would cruelly deprive care to people who need it now.
"… the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and the conscience of our nation long enough. So let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year," he said in his February primetime television address to the nation.
"We've got to get it done this year, both in the House and in the Senate," he said on May 13.
"This debate is not a game for these Americans [affected by problems with the current system], and they cannot afford to wait for reform any longer," he said on July 22. "If we do not control these costs, we will not be able to control our deficit. If we do not reform health care, your premiums and out-of-pocket costs will continue to skyrocket. If we do not act, 14,000 Americans will continue to lose their health insurance every single day."
"We cannot wait any longer," he said again on September 26.
And then, on December 2, Peter Orszag, Obama's budget director, said the obvious. "It will be years to decades" before Americans have an efficient health care system that functions as the administration would like it to function.
At a health care forum for reporters, New York Times reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg noticed that Orszag said the administration wanted to lay the foundation for an efficient health care system that emphasizes quality of care over quantity. She asked Orszag how long that would take.
"It is a gradual process that, you know, will be moving forward. It will be years to decades, but just continuous improvement, and that is the point."
Stolberg asked if 2015 were a reasonable time by which Americans could expect to see this new system in effect. Orszag said some parts would be in place before that, but reiterated that the change the administration wants will be a long time in coming.
"It's more like a lifelong nutrition or diet, not studying for an exam. You don't just, you know, study for the exam and you're done with it. It requires continuous effort. And what you are doing in this legislation is putting together a system that will make that easier to do."
Urgency? Immediate change to help people who need it now? Not so much.
Orszag's exchange with Stolberg lasted two minutes and 18 seconds, which is all it took to undo 11 months of President Obama's hype. The truth is that passing health care reform by the end of this month is not essential. Whatever changes Congress and the administration make to the law will take years, if not decades, to reshape 17 percent of the U.S. economy. And that is if they actually function as intended, which is always questionable.
In two minutes and 18 seconds, Orszag revealed Obama's appeals for immediate action to be nothing more than hollow political rhetoric. There is no need to rush these changes into law. The greater need, Orszag's statements strongly suggest, is to make sure we get it right. If change takes that long to be fully realized, then correcting an error could take generations. One mistake could worsen the lives of millions of Americans for decades. Why take that risk? Why not take our time and make sure we get it right?
The president ought to be working as diligently as possible to craft careful, prudent legislation that contains as few surprises and opportunities for unintended consequences as possible. Instead, he is rushing us to pass by the end of the year a hastily thrown-together bill that only a handful of Americans will have read, the outcome of which is uncertain, but which will certainly make dramatic changes to nearly a fifth of the U.S. economy.
Again, if there's no rush, then what's the rush? It's enough to make one question whether improving the current health care system is really this president's goal after all, or whether passing something -- anything -- before the mid-term elections 12 months from now is the real objective.
About the Author
Andrew Cline is editorial page editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader. His Twitter ID is Drewhampshire.
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Pingback| 12.3.09 @ 6:22AM
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Big J| 12.3.09 @ 7:25AM
I'll bet General McChrystal wished Obama placed the same urgency on his request for more troops back in August.
Must have been too busy playing golf, partying and trashing America for the last 3 months.
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.3.09 @ 9:36AM
Big J.
Shame on you. That was tacky tacky tacky!
(heh, I loved it.)
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stephanie| 12.3.09 @ 7:58AM
Again, this isn't about our healthcare, our doctors, our health. It's about control over one sixth of the economy and our lives.
The republicans best step up to the plate, grow some, be conservatives and stop this madness before we become the EU or worse.
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Dave| 12.3.09 @ 8:44AM
Hi, I'm one of the little guys who's gonna get scr-wed by the MANDATE TO BUY INSURANCE portion of this new government's power grab.
Some background ...
I'm 64, retired and living on a fixed income of under 19-k a year. Most of that is from Social Security with a little bank interest income at year's end. With this Nazi styled "Buy Insurance Or Go To Jail" requirement, no longer will I be able to go to my doctor and pay "out of my own pocket" for any of the minor tweeks and cooties that pop into my life from time to time.
Did I forget to mention that I can't afford a health insurance policy? No I can't. But that no one's problem but mine. I pay for myself, pay what I can and will deal with the other issues when the arise. Frankly, I wouldn't even have accepted Social Security but over all the decades I spent in the work force, plus the money confiscated from my paychecks to fund various D.C. vote buying scams over the years, I figure to just get back a little of what they ripped off from me during my "productive" years.
I digress.
If this mandate manuver kicks in, I'll no longer be able to go to my regular doctor, pay out of pocket for his services and walk out the door all better. I suspect I'll now be told -- "The Doctor Can't See You Now Unless You Have Insurance. Have A Nice Day." I suppose if I walk in bleeding from a sliced artery, accidentally opened while fixing my lawn mower, I'll be told to "Go Out And Buy Insurance Before You Bleed All Over Our Carpet. We'll Be Glad To See You Then. NEXT!"
You hear all the blithering lies and spin from these power mad Democrats that "Oh, Our Save America Healthcare Bill Will Provide For You A Government Subsidy. No Problem, Citizen."
Really now ?
What most of these liars won't tell you (out front) is that the so-called "subsidy" won't kick-in for three to four years AFTER the bill's passage. Funny how that little factoid slips past the Obama bu-t kissers at NBC and the rest of the Chipmunk news channels. He-l, they're all too busy these days trying to bury those leaked e-mails that expose Albie Gore's global warming for the sham it is.
Again, I digress.
Meanwhile, I guess I'll try not to slice an artery. Wouldn't want to bleed all over that nice new carpet at the Pelosi Med Center. Then again, being in my mid- 60s ... they'll probably just decide I'm too old to waste confiscated taxpayer money on and simply send me over to Wal-Mart to buy a box of Band Aids and a roll of cotton swabs before that bleeding to death deal kicks in and I kick off.
Don't 'ya just love Obama's new American socialism?
These days I recalling a line from Simon and Garfunkle's "Mrs. Robinson" -- "Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?"
Well, I'm not sure, but he sure as he-l isn't living in one of the spare bedrooms at 1600. Those are reserved for people with ... do-na-shuns! And lots of 'em.
Meanwhile, I'll just have to keep you fingers crossed. Providing I don't lose 'em while fixing the lawn mower.
Tim| 12.3.09 @ 1:28PM
Look on the bright side: in Federal Prison your healthcare will be free.
Jimmy1920| 12.3.09 @ 11:43PM
Dave
It might disrupt you paranoid little world a bit, but you will be on Medicare, before any individual mandate kicks in. And I haven't heard anything that changes the requirements to enroll in Medicare Part B or D.
Your generous words about Social Security are appreciated. do you know that on average, people collect everything they ever paid into Social Security within 4 years or 3 years depending whose counting.
Sounds like you may have crossed that threshold.
I hope you health holds out forever, too.
And its nice that
Dave| 12.5.09 @ 8:26AM
Well, lemmie 'splain somethin' to you, Lucy. If I'd have been able to save and invest most of what S.S. took from my paychecks during my "productive years" ... I'd have a lot more money on hand NOW, than the piddly little income S.S. grants me.
Interesting that folks on S.S. get no cost of living for the next few years, but your flush bucks buddies in D.C. managed to find spare taxpayer change for their own raises and to fund that ... nifty little healthcare plan for government leeches only. Maybe you're one of 'em.
As far as Medcare goes -- that too will be a tough nut to have stolen from my annual income. Unlike some - I can't pluck a few spare Benjamans from the backyard money tree or pass any during those morning visits on the porcilin palace.
Meanwhile, glad you apparently have no cash flow problems of your own. God must love 'ya lots. Me? I just want this radical government to stay out of my life.
Meanwhile, good luck when you start getting the healthcare bill for 25 million illegal aliens. I figure that ought to bring a smile to your face. Did I say 25 million? Hell, make it 50 million and cover 'em all. We've got the cash. After all -- it's only paper.
Right, Barry?
Pingback| 12.3.09 @ 8:55AM
The American Spectator : Where's the Urgency on Health Care Reform? | Health Blog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
hoads| 12.3.09 @ 9:00AM
Yes, the emperor has no clothes and yet a still sizable portion of the population continues to don their rose colored glasses. The rest of us see this Orwellian play for what it is and despite massive public uprising, the politicians and lobbyists forge ahead knowing the majority of the public is not on their side. It is "damn the torpedoes" full steam ahead with hopes that their sycophantic media will provide enough cover before Americans realize they've been had. By then, it will be too late and Americans will see our healthcare system in ruins requiring more government "solutions". And the left will then declare victory as Americans' are relegated to a healthcare system aligned with an international definition of basic care for all where the sick and elderly will receive less healthcare and the young and healthy will receive more low tech "preventive" healthcare.
Dave| 12.5.09 @ 4:40PM
More specifically, the Emperor has "no pants" which makes him a mirror image of his pal (the late) Teddy Kennedy.
Meanwhile, how's Tiger doing these days?
Opps! Must be still lookin' for HIS pants.
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Kkris Lepine| 12.3.09 @ 9:10AM
I just read an article on "Red State's" blog stating the Republicans (Mitch McConnel) are helping re-write this travesty so it will pass. Can that be true?
My husband and I have our insurance thru the Carpenters retirement fund. We pay over $500 a month for it. We will be dumped into the public system in the blink of an eye. SO WILL ALL UNION RETIREE'S. ARE YOU LISTENING UNION PEOPLE? THAT WILL ALLOW YOUR UNION LEADERSHIP MORE MONEY TO EMBEZZLE FROM THE TRUST FUNDS.
One of my Senators, Debbie Stabenow, wrote me recently she believes health care is a "right" for all Americans. If I follow that line of thinking; that people die when they lack health care, then we need to furnish all Americans with a home, food, clothing, a car and on and on. Without these things, people die. Especially in Michigan in the winter.
This health care travesty is step one in spreading the wealth around. And we are watching with our mouths open as they jam program after program at us at lightening speed.
Sir| 12.3.09 @ 11:47AM
Mr./Ms. Kkris,
I can't say I've read the legislation, but I would probably BET that there's an out for Union-members, so that they don't suffer under this travesty/enslavement... not to ruin your day further.
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Cut the Waste Now...| 12.3.09 @ 10:57AM
How about going forward cutting all that waste and fraud from our Medicare and Medicaid system? If we are sitting on millions of dollars as offsets for the reformed system why wait?
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tj| 12.3.09 @ 11:51AM
http://theprecinctproject.wordpress.com/ read all the way to the bottom. VOTE EM OUT 2010/2012
We have to organize now for 2010... Lets Roll
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Dixie Pixie| 12.3.09 @ 5:24PM
Why the rush in Health Care Reform????
This is fast turning a big a disaster as Income Tax Reform. Legislative amendments will follow further legislative amendments. Exceptions will be followed by modifications to the exceptions. Brain dead fixes will be applied to the last brain dead fixes.
In ten years the current 2,000 plus page Health Care Bill will blossom into a 100,000 plus pages of regulations incomprehensible to the mind of man. It happened to Income Tax Reform, it will happen to Health Care Reform.
Conservatives need to get in front of the debate now before the reform jells. In a mischievous spirit, I propose the following::::
1% FLAT HEALTH TAX MAX FOR ANY MEDICAL SPLAT.
EVERY THING COVERED FOR 1% FLAT HEALTH TAX MAX.
Why go through ten years of medical chaos and end up in the above position anyway.
Why not get ahead of the curve this time.
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Dr Jack Ryan| 12.3.09 @ 8:30PM
...nothing more than a power grab...instead of taking actions to stimulate the economy, this knucklehead POTUS wants to slam the people with this and then say "Look at me, look what I did for the people!" Somewhere in Kenya, a village is missing it's idiot.
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W.P.Koch| 12.12.09 @ 12:58PM
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN
Congress and the White House should stop squandering the people’s money first to improve quality of basic entitlements. No new taxes. Citizens come first.
It is time the U.S. limits its human rites and military policeman by lobbying the United Nations and NATO to “take on more”. 800 bases across the world should be reduced. Starting with Iraq, remove most troops in 2010 and continue consulting for self reliance. After a surge in Afghanistan repeat, remove corruption and substitute same value food crops for drugs. Reduce forces in selected areas such as Germany, Bosnia and Okinawa.
Cut bureaucracy. For example, combine CDC, EPA and FDA. No CSZARS.
Contribute to one of: The World Bank or International Monetary Fund.
Reduce foreign aid. For example, no aid to oil rich -Iraq.
Reduce the “stimulus” by halting “vote buying” and ridiculous earmarks. Examine 887 billion. Please--no research of frogs or rats and no private jets for Congress.
Reduce medical costs by “tort reform”, and limiting “red tape”.
Stop the “bailout”. Let executives lose. “To big to fail” is obsolete.
Enforce immigration laws. Entitlements or benefits are for citizens. Deport criminal “illegals”. Workers with visas should receive only needed medical benefits.
Improve medical expense tax deduction for citizens reaching age 65. Provide employer tax incentives for employee healthcare.
Full funding will support “Medicaid”,” Medicare”, and “Veteran’s Affairs”.
Healthcare quality should be at least that for Congress or the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). A result: no drug “benefit hole”, dental coverage, improved visual coverage and no co-pays except for extended skilled level nursing.
The savings can aid unemployment compensation, and stabilize Social Security.
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