New_Health_Care_System_Proposal

My Proposal for a New Health Care System HCA/210 - Introduction to Health Care University of Phoenix/Axia College June 25, 2009 My Proposal for a New Health Care System Only the issues of abortion and the death penalty have been as controversial in the political arena as the debate on the health care system. Every political party agrees the healthcare system is in dire need of reform. In a talk given to The Association for State Green Parties (1999) states that, “The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to health care as a right of citizenship”. (para. 1) The liberal health care proposal begins with the belief that health care should be an equal right of all people. "Right" means that the government guarantees something to everyone. Rights come in two categories: individual freedoms and population-based prerogatives. Prerogatives require that the government either allocates money for a service or authorizes another entity to pay for the service. (Bodenheimer, 2005). Considering the effectiveness and questionable financial viability of Medicare, it is clear that changes need to be instituted. Additionally, it is also apparent that there is an unaddressed demand by the American people for choice and diversity in their health care and that the limitations and inefficient program of the government model is an obstacle to better healthcare. So what should be done' This author believes that a single payer, universal health care structure administered by a state public health system would be much more egalitarian and much less invasive than our current system. Let us begin by stating and refuting the myths that have been circulating in the U.S. and have been propagated by our government for what seems an eternity. Battista, M.D. & McCabe, Ph.D. (1999) cite the myths as follows, “Myth one: The United States has the best health care system in the world.” The facts state quite the opposite, the U.S. is nowhere near number one, statistics show that the U.S. ranks 23rd in infant mortality, 20th and 21st in life expectancy for women and men respectively, and overall 67th in immunizations. Therefore, despite having the best-trained health care providers in the world the U.S. is far from being the leader. “Myth two: Universal health care would be too expensive” Battista, M.D. & McCabe, Ph.D. (1999). According to a federal study by the Congressional Budget and General Accounting Offices, a single payer universal health care system would save the U.S. 100 to 200 billion dollars per year. By lowering the 50 -100% more that the U.S. pays on administration costs we, as a nation would have the ability to provide universal health care to all of our citizens, without managed care, increase benefits and still save money. (Battista, M.D. & McCabe, Ph.D., 1999) Myths three and four: Universal health care would deprive citizens of needed services, and would result in government control and intrusion resulting in loss of freedom. Battista, M.D. & McCabe, Ph.D. (1999) On the contrary, at present access to health care are linked to income and race. Therefore, the underprivileged and minorities have poorer health and more problems accessing the care they need than in any other industrialized country. With a universal health care system, everyone would have access to the same type of care, and since the U.S. has more than enough providers and a superior infrastructure our citizens would not have to deal with long lines or indeterminable waits as with other industrialized countries. “There would be no management of care under a single payer, universal health care system unlike the current managed care system which mandates insurer preapproval for services thus undercutting patient confidentiality and taking health care decisions away from the health care providers and consumers.” (Battista, M.D. & McCabe, Ph.D. 1999) While health care providers fees would be set they would still have the opportunity to negotiate, unlike with the current system where patient care is not the priority, profits are. My proposed system would not be run by the government, but by a public trust where the fees, benefits and taxes would be decided by a varied panel of individuals representing not only business and government but consumers and providers as well. This would yield a much more democratic health care system, solve the intrusiveness of our current system, and give the people back free choice as consumers and providers would have a voice in determining benefits, fees and taxes. Myths five and six, universal health care is socialized medicine, and the problems with the U.S. health care system are best solved by private corporate managed care medicine because they are the most efficient. Battista, M.D. & McCabe, Ph.D. (1999) Single payer universal health care defines itself, it is not socialized medicine it is a health care payment system. The quality of health care in the U.S. has worsened since managed care originated, the number of uninsured people has increased and the level of satisfaction has decreased. Private corporate managed care is not solving the problem, nor is it attempting to. “For profit, managed care cannot solve the U.S. health care problems because health care is not a commodity that people shop for, and quality of care must always be compromised when the motivating factor for corporations is to save money through denial of care and decreasing provider costs. In addition, managed care has introduced problems with patient confidentiality and disrupted the continuity of care through having limited provider networks”. (Battista, M.D. & McCabe, Ph.D. 1999) A single payer universal health care system is the most efficient, most democratic and most equitable means to deliver health care. We as a people must force the United States to divorce itself from an ineffective, dictatorial, and corrupt system that makes health care accessible only to a small fortunate percent of the population. We as a people must take back control of our government and stop the corruption of politicians. This is our right granted to us by our forefathers in The Declaration of Independence: “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” ( Jefferson, 1776) References Battista, M.D, John R. & McCabe, Ph.D., Justine (1999). The case for single payer, universal health care for the United States. Connecticut Coalition for Universal Health care. Retrieved June 24, 2009, from http://cthealth.server101.com/the_case_for_universal_health_care_in_the_united_states.htm Bodenheimer, Thomas. (2005). The Political Divide In Health Care: A Liberal Perspective. Health Affairs, 24(6), 1426-1435. Jefferson, Thomas (1776). The Declaration of Independence. Retrieved June 25, 2009 from http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html