Pamela D. Wilson - The Care Navigator

The Congressional Budget Office recently released a report that the cost of health care reform is more than expected.  Few people are surprised, we knew the costs would be higher than estimated.  It’s our government representatives who buried their heads in the sand and now have to make cuts to meet the promised budget.  Health care reform is at risk of falling apart.  To date 41 states are questioning the constitutionality of the individual mandate.  If the individual mandate is not forced, the whole plan falls apart.  Not only will millions of uninsured not have coverage, costs of individual plans will continue to skyrocket and corporations will end employee sponsored healthcare because paying a $2,000 penalty is less expensive than paying twice that much for employee health insurance.  This is what happens when one party pushes through a plan without thinking through the realities of the proposal.

In its great wisdom the U.S. government capped the number of medical residencies in a 1997 law to contain costs.  Each new resident costs the government $100,000 per student or $9.1 billion to teaching hospitals.  It takes 8-10 years of schooling, residency and training to develop a primary care physician.  Healthcare reform adds 30 million to the ranks and assuming an individual started school today, we’re 10 years away from a substantial number of new physicians.  What were our lawmakers thinking?  Even the public knows better.  Unfortunately not many in the government are listening to the people.  They’re listening to themselves, the political class.

Chronic disease management is a program within the current healthcare bill.  Past studies funded by Medicare prove that these programs increase costs and do not decrease hospitalizations, needed care or the number of deaths that occur.  Do we want to pass healthcare reform so badly that we’re willing to pass a bill that includes measures that fail to reduce costs, not to mention pay for abortions?

We’re a nation divided on healthcare, with a president who promised to unite the parties but who has done everything to put a wedge in between them - pushing foward with reconciliation of a 2500+ page health care bill that most, including elected officials haven’t read.  Do you know what you’re voting for?  The government paying for abortions?  Programs promising to decrease costs that won’t be estimated for 12 months or more?  Don’t get caught up in the I’m a Democrat you’re a Republican argument.  Get caught up in the real facts, do your research that proves that passing this entire bill without changes may not be in the best interest of the American Public or the national deficit. There’s still time to become educated and have your voice be heard.