Ten US Senators say:
"We want to fix health care NOW..."
Opinion
by Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen
Thursday,
February 15th, 2007
Ten US
Senators, two days ago, wrote a bi-partisan letter to President George W. Bush
saying:
"Each of us believes our
current health system needs to be fixed now. Further delay is unacceptable as
costs continue to skyrocket, our population ages, and chronic illness
increases. In addition, our businesses are at a severe disadvantage when their
competitors in the global market get health care for “free.”"
I'm going to say this once again - Nobody even tries to hide the fact that
the US Health Care System is broken
beyond repair. There is a lot of finger-pointing going
on, as well there should be.
The US health care system costs too much, it's the top three killers of
Americans, and Americans don't trust it. It
simply doesn't work.
Who's fault is
this? Blame lies
solidly with the management of the US Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS).
Current management is incapable of dealing with health care problems. It
has set up a US Health Care system that doesn't work, and has no chance of
ever working.
Why is
this happening? Because Congress gave
DHHS authority over the "structure" of US Health Care and DHHS
management can't see "the big picture". Every day we sink
deeper into the hole.
Dear Mr. President:
As U.S. Senators of both political parties we
would like to work with you and your Administration to fix the American health
care system.
Each of us believes our current health system
needs to be fixed now. Further delay is unacceptable as costs continue to
skyrocket, our population ages, and chronic illness increases. In addition,
our businesses are at a severe disadvantage when their competitors in the
global market get health care for “free.”
We would like to work with you and your
Administration to pass legislation in this Congress that would:
1) Ensure that all Americans would have
affordable, quality, private health coverage, while protecting current
government programs. We believe the health care system cannot be fixed without
providing solutions for everyone. Otherwise, the costs of those without
insurance will continue to be shifted to those who do have coverage.
2) Modernize Federal tax rules for health
coverage. Democratic and Republican economists have convinced us that the
current rules disproportionately favor the most affluent, while promoting
inefficiency.
3) Create more opportunities and incentives for
states to design health solutions for their citizens. Many state officials are
working in their state legislatures to develop fresh, creative strategies for
improving health care, and we believe any legislation passed in this Congress
should not stymie that innovation.
4) Take steps to create a culture of wellness
through prevention strategies, rather than perpetuating our current emphasis
on sick care. For example, Medicare Part A pays thousands of dollars in
hospital expenses, while Medicare Part B provides no incentives for seniors to
reduce blood pressure or cholesterol. Employers, families, and all our
constituents want emphasis on prevention and wellness.
5) Encourage more cost-effective chronic and
compassionate end-of-life care. Studies show that an increase in health care
spending does not always mean an increase in quality of outcomes. All
Americans should be empowered to make decisions about their end of life care,
not be forced into hospice care without other options. We hope to work with
you on policies that address these issues.
6) Improve access to information on price and
quality of health services. Today, consumers have better access to information
about the price and quality of washing machines than on the price and quality
of health services.
We disagree with those who say the Senate is too
divided and too polarized to pass comprehensive health care legislation. We
disagree with those who believe that this issue should not come up until after
the next presidential election. We disagree with those who want to wait when
the American people are saying, loud and clear, “We want to fix health care
now.”
We look forward to working with you in a
bipartisan manner in the days ahead.
The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden
(D-OR), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Robert Bennett (R-UT), Ken
Salazar (D-CO), Trent Lott (R-MS), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Mike Crapo (R-ID),
Herb Kohl (D-WI) and John Thune (R-SD).
