Zandoka39310

Improving Health Care Policy and Delivery

There are too many career politicians making decisions about health care. More health care insiders need to be shedding light on what is happening. The insurance industry, the pharmaceutical industry and hospitals are all well represented in Washington by lobbyists.

The most important interest group, the one for which the entire health care system exists, the patients, is not so well represented by lobbyists. That's why all of the modifications, reforms, and new programs seem to work out poorly for people. This imbalance in representation has resulted in enormous, improbable increases in cost and profit for these groups at the expense of ordinary citizens.

After twenty two years as a practicing physician, I am uniquely qualified to shed light on proposed health care reforms. It's time that patients actually get an improvement.

This is a long term problem. We need a long term solution. A short term fix just postpones dealing with the problem while allowing the magnitude of the problem to grow.

Fix the Problem:

1. Eliminate group insurance purchasing.

People must be able to purchase insurance on the open market where companies must compete for individual clients. This will go a long way toward reducing the cost of health insurance.

2. Remove the barriers to insurance companies entering Kentucky.

This will increase competition among insurance companies within Kentucky and lead to reduced costs for patients.

3. Put power to people to decide what is covered and what is not.

A post menopausal woman does not need a policy that covers labor and delivery. A man does not need a policy that covers pap smears and mammograms. A young couple may be very interested in pediatric coverage and coverage for labor and delivery while a couple in their 50's may not be so interested.

4. Make health insurance completely portable.

People must be able to take their health insurance policy from employer to employer as their employment changes. They must also be able to maintain their policy indefinitely, as an individual.

5. Make health insurance premiums tax deductible.

Decrease the threshold for deductibility of out of pocket medical expenses to 2% of gross income from the current 7%.

6. Allow injured people to sue insurance companies that cause injury through utilization management decisions.

This will result in greater accountability for decisions made by insurance companies. This will also put an end to the practice of medicine by clerks.

7. Repeal Medicare Part D.

It is a bonanza for pharmaceutical companies and health insurance companies. With Medicare part D there are now more senior citizens than ever before who go without medications because they can't afford to buy the medications. Medicare Part D has helped to drive up the cost of traditional Medicare supplement insurance. Now senior citizens pay more for medications under Part D than they would have under existing health care programs.

Until Medicare Part D is repealed, allow Medicare to negotiate prices for Medications with the manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers.

By Mike Cassaro (for discussion of other issues go to http://www.cassaroforsenate.com)

posted by kalco16945 @ 2:18 PM