A Simple Discussion about Healthcare Reform

Healthcare reform is an extremely hot subject right now. Many people fear change, others encourage it-where do you stand? I believe the escalating costs of healthcare make it imperative to open a discussion. There are several underlying issues at play and unfortunately we can not discuss them all here.

From what I’ve heard from physicians, they feel their hands are tied because of what they are allowed to bill. There is an extreme shortage of internists right now and I sense it is a direct correlation to the amount of time they spend with patients and production value they receive versus a cardiologist who can triple production value after a twenty minute session with a patient. On this basis and very simply, reform is needed because there can not be a shortage of internists or a surplus of cardiologists.

Another fear involves socialized care. Everyone wants to receive the best care possible and some are more than willing to pay. Does this put the average patient at a disadvantage because they are not able to afford to use whatever resources possible to receive the best possible care? Will such a scenario reduce the competency level of physicians in a socialized system? A. Hugh Greene, CEO of Baptist Health recently stated there should be a happy medium between the two. I think this is what President Obama is pushing for as well.

Recently, President Obama has begun his efforts at healthcare reform by forming alliances with state governors such as Christine Gregoire of Washington and Michael Rounds of South Dakota. Mr. Obama has asked them to speak to congress about their innovative approaches to healthcare reform. His push according to David Axelrod, Mr. Obama’s senior advisor, “is to involve as many people as possible and demonstrate in a variety of ways the level and degree of intensity of support that this has.” At the very least this seems a call to action among all citizens regardless of political motivation to voice their opinion.

We have barely hit the surface with our brief discussion. What is your opinion and what other angles will have a direct affect on you, either as a healthcare provider or receiver? What innovative approach do you propose?