PLEASE Say NO to National Health Care

I missed posting last week, sorry to those of you that actually read this. This subject may not seem like a "health information" related subject but it is. I strongly oppose national or "socialized" medical care. I beg each of you to contact your senator and congressman and do the same. I have several personal reasons and will share some published information to help back up my beliefs. As Herman Cain(former US Senate candidate from Georgia and a radio talk show host in Atlanta in the evenings)says, "don't blow up the building to fix the leak in the roof". Yes, we have some problems in health care in America especially when it comes to the cost in the care itself but also to the cost of health insurance. My first and biggest fear to national health care is that more people will be going to the doctor for minor conditions because it's "free" and that there will be fewer doctors because of the controlled fees the doctor or hospital can receive. A medical physician goes to school for 12 plus years and will spend well over $100,000 to get his education and will only be able to make an upper middle income salary. He/she could go to school for several fewer years and spend much less money to get the education and make just as much money in another career. This translates in more crowded offices and a lesser quality health care. Longer hours for the fewer doctors means the possibility of more medical mistakes. If you read my last blog, you know this translates into potentially more deaths. Ironically, I feel that national health care could possibly benefit chiropractors. Our offices may fill up more and the general chiropractor may actually make more money. Natural and preventative health care will get a lot of play in the reform negotiations. Good for us, but bad for the average citizen/tax payer. And yes that is where one of the big rubs is. Whatever you here as to the cost in tax revenue to pay for national health care go ahead and double or triple it. Just look at what Medicare and social security have done. More recently, look at what just adding the prescription benefit has done. The original figures were 6 to 12 billion dollars, the number now is over 100 billion dollars. Needless to say, we can't afford this kind of money. Mr. Obama's current deficit is already in the trillions. Again we can't afford for the government to take over health care too. As a matter of fact the government already pays nearly 50% of America's health care right now when you take into account Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA. Studies show that Medicare officials waste 1/3 of of the money the program spends now.
OK, so here is an opinion of someone else besides mine. This information is from a book review by Doug Bandow. The book, 'The Top Ten Myths of American Health Care: A Citizen's Guide' by Sally C. Pipes. He states right off the bat: do not believe that this is about "reform", this is about a "takeover" of the medical system by the government. Ms. Pipes states that there are tens of thousands of people every year that come to America for our health care because their nationalized system can't provide what they need. Myth #1 is that the government administration would be more efficient than private insurance. Doubt it!! Look at Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, and government hospitals like Atlanta's own Grady Hospital. Myth #2 is that Americans spend too much on health care. Or is it that Americans spend too much on cigarettes, alcohol, fast foods, drugs and do very little exercise? Maybe if we didn't spend so much money on things we know for sure causes health problems there would be enough money to pay for decent health insurance. In general most Americans can afford their health care they just choose to use the money somewhere else. Myth #3, 46 million people lack health care. Not necessarily so. Lack of health insurance does not mean lack of health care. Nearly 20 million people choose not to purchase health insurance for one reason or another. The number of hardship cases is closer to 8 million dollars. Again a more manageable number so let's don't throw out the baby with the bath water. Myth #4 is that high drug prices drive health care expenditures. "In reality, prescription drugs reduce medical expenses". Medicine can often be a viable substitute for hospitalization and/or surgery. And as a chiropractor, we can offer many less expensive ways to treat people naturally and potentially save the patient from drugs and surgery. Myth #5 is that importing drugs would reduce medical costs. Ms. Pipes notes "they're referring to a very narrow category-brand name drugs that have been approved and price controlled by foreign governments." Even with the best case scenario this is not going to save much money. Remember that one of the largest lobbyist in the country is the drug companies.
Myth #6 is that forcing people to purchase health insurance is the answer. Some states have tried this and apparently it has not worked. According to Ms. Pipes, she urges the promoters to at least be honest when looking at the "sacrifices required: Higher taxes, forced premium payments, one size fits all policies, long waiting lists, rationed care, and limited access to cutting edge medicine." as Mr. Bandow says this is an answer that most Americans do not want. Myth #7 is one I do and don't agree with. Trying to regulate ones personal behavior to reduce medical expenses saves money. This is definitely an individuals responsibility. For example I should not have to pay more taxes or a higher premium on my insurance because someone else decides to live a reckless unhealthy life. Eating properly, exercising,and not smoking or drinking can insure you a better chance to stay healthy and out of the doctors office. My opinion is, how about give the person that stays a certain weight, doesn't drink or smoke and exercises regularly a tax incentive to offset a part of health insurance premium. It would be up to the insurance company to monitor this. Myth #8 is that we need new government initiatives to cover the poor. Medicaid is already in place and is not doing a very good job at as it is. Low reimbursement rate for physicians discourages doctors from participating in the program. In Georgia, Medicaid does not pay chiropractors at all. People at Grady Hospital will wait sometimes 6 to 8 hours just to be seen and according to some of my patients get inferior treatment and lack of concern from the doctor. Myth #9 is that information technology can dramatically reduce health care expenses. There are 12 different federal agencies trying to over see health care technology producing tons of red tape and being typical bureaucracies that actually cost more and bog the system down even more. Myth #10 is that foreign government-run systems are better than the American system. Ms. Pipes states, "a nationalized system delivers a waiting list rather than treatment, outcomes are not better overseas, care is rationed and access to advance procedures and pharmaceuticals is limited, people suffer and die from bureaucratic and budgetary imperatives."
I also agree with Ms. Pipes that although these are myths people generally believe there is a need for some reform. Let's have less government control. Let's figure out ways to allow the free market to achieve quality health care. Change the tax code to a consumption tax such as the FAIR TAX, this will put more money in the peoples pocket. Allow doctors a tax break to take care of indigent patients. Have a back up plan for those that lose health insurance with the loss of a job. Let those that can't afford private health insurance have the option of buying into a system that is already in place such as Medicare. This can be done on a limited time basis. A radical thought is to do away with health insurance for general health care and simple office visits. Have insurance for catastrophic purposes only. I believe we would see the cost of health care go down over night.No one has all the answers but more government intrusion is not the answer. We don't need to be socialists to fix this problem.