Not Logged In Login / Sign-up NOW Viewpoints, Outlook 27 · current trend must be curtailed. The...
3
Not Logged In Login / Sign-up Viewpoints, Outlook NEWS SPORTS BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIFE TRAVEL BLOGS JOBS HOMES CARS CLASSIFIEDS Facebook Twitter Share Del.icio.us Digg Twitter Facebook StumbleUpon Email Recommend 48 people recommend this. Search advanced search | archives Time to dispel the myths about health care reform By JAY H. STEIN HOUSTON CHRONICLE Jan. 29, 2011, 4:10PM In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), the cornerstone of the Obama administration health care reform, was signed into law by the 111th Congress. This legislation is considered to be the most significant social program since Medicare was enacted in 1969. There is a great political divide, however, between Democrats and Republicans on the issue, as well as polarization and confusion among the general public. This is not surprising considering the complexity of the bill (which has more than 2,000 pages of detail), and the fact that it will take more than five years to implement the many facets. I am a physician who has worked in academic health centers and who has followed health care issues and economics for several decades. I believe that the debate now under way in the 112th Congress is the most important issue facing our country today. The Affordabe Care Act has many flaws because of the process of compromise necessary for passage of such complex legislation. Yet it does develop a method of providing health care for 32 million more Americans, ensures many other coverage protections and starts a process for cost-cutting that is projected to substantially reduce the federal deficit over the next 10 years. There are more positives than negatives in this bill. I also believe that many of the statements currently used to denigrate this bill are flawed or totally in error. Following are four key examples. 1. The United States already has the best health care system in the world and doesn't need reform. The United States has many outstanding medical centers that deliver superb care for complex medical problems. Yet the U.S. ranks well down the list of developed countries based on health care costs and parameters such as infant mortality and life expectancy. Health care cost in the U.S. is currently 18 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and is projected to reach 34 percent by 2040. Currently, we spend $6,100 per person each year for health care. In contrast, other developed countries, (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden and the United Kingdom) spend 8 percent to 10 percent of GDP and $2,800 to $3,500 per person per year for health care. The U.S. ranks 33rd in a study of the World Health Organization ranking infant mortality and 36th in life expectancy. This is not a good score card. 2. Health care rates are high due to the new law. Recently, a prominent Republican representative said, "It's important we repeal Obamacare as soon as possible because it is already harming the economy and killing jobs. Employers are seeing their costs for providing health insurance skyrocket and that's causing them to hold off on hiring and job creation." As of Jan. 1, 2011, several provisions of ACA have been initiated. Drug companies will be required to pay a levy of $2.5 billion to the government to help offset the cost of drugs for the newly insured. Expenditures in the ACA will include lowering prescription drug costs and expanding preventive services for Medicare patients. Health insurance companies will now be required to pay 80 percent to 85 percent of premium cost on insurance claims or for activities that improve one's health. Not until 2014 will the 32 million previously uninsured individuals be covered by the bill. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the new law will reduce the federal deficit by $230 billion over the first 10 years. Those who like the new law want to believe the numbers, and those who don't can find reasons to question this outcome. The undisputed point is that health care costs in the United States have been out of control for decades and the current trend must be curtailed. The rates for 2011 have nothing to do with the ACA. 3. The ACA is a government takeover of health care. In the current context of health care funding in the United States, figures show that in 2009, the U.S. spent $2.5 trillion, of which government programs (mostly Medicare and Medicaid) account for $1.2 trillion. By 2012, more than half of health care costs will be paid for by state and federal governments. Thus the government is already a huge player in paying health care costs. This isn't new. It is true that the ACA does have numerous regulations. There are many examples of state and federal regulatory bodies that function in the public sector without change in ownership, such as FAA regulations of publicly traded airlines. In addition, the ACA law still relies on the free market. Employers will continue to pick insurance through private companies. There will be no change in ownership of hospitals, and physicians will not become government employees. This is not a government takeover. 4. Formation of "death panels" is a key section in ACA. Chron.com Web Search by YAHOO! Businesses HPD: Driver accidentally strikes wife in garage, killing her Chaos engulfs Cairo; Mubarak points to succession Dallas-area teen pays $637 fine for cursing in class Husband charged in fight with man seen with wife Wrong turn on exit ramp ends in fiery fatal wreck HPD: Husband faces charges in confrontation with other man(118) Dallas-area teen pays $637 fine for cursing in class(90) Texas police await Mexican officials in missionary slaying probe(54) Palin issues scathing response to Obama speech (48) Small plane crashes in NW Harris County backyard(45) Workplace threats pose a challenge for employers Bill King: No obvious reason why city’s crime rate is down Let’s spread the burden of state budget cuts equally Letters: Police act caught on video NOW 27 o 35 Comments 48 Recommend Page 1 of 3 Time to dispel the myths about health care reform | Viewpoints, Outlook | Chron.com - H... 2/10/2011 http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/7404089.html
Transcript of Not Logged In Login / Sign-up NOW Viewpoints, Outlook 27 · current trend must be curtailed. The...
Not Logged In Login / Sign-up
Viewpoints, Outlook NEWS SPORTS BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIFE TRAVEL BLOGS JOBS HOMES CARS CLASSIFIEDS Facebook Twitter
ShareDel.icio.us DiggTwitter FacebookStumbleUpon Email
Recommend 48 people recommend this.
Search advanced search | archives
Time to dispel the myths about health care reformBy JAY H. STEIN HOUSTON CHRONICLEJan. 29, 2011, 4:10PM
In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), the cornerstone of the Obama administration health care reform, was signed into law by the 111th Congress. This legislation is considered to be the most significant social program since Medicare was enacted in 1969. There is a great political divide, however, between Democrats and Republicans on the issue, as well as polarization and confusion among the general public. This is not surprising considering the complexity of the bill (which has more than 2,000 pages of detail), and the fact that it will take more than five years to implement the many facets.I am a physician who has worked in academic health centers and who has followed health care issues and economics for several decades. I believe that the debate now under way in the 112th Congress is the most important issue facing our country today.
The Affordabe Care Act has many flaws because of the process of compromise necessary for passage of such complex legislation. Yet it does develop a method of providing health care for 32 million more Americans, ensures many other coverage protections and starts a process for cost-cutting that is projected to substantially reduce the federal deficit over the next 10 years. There are more positives than negatives in this bill. I also believe that many of the statements currently used to denigrate this bill are flawed or totally in error. Following are four key examples.1. The United States already has the best health care system in the world and doesn't need reform.The United States has many outstanding medical centers that deliver superb care for complex medical problems. Yet the U.S. ranks well down the list of developed countries based on health care costs and parameters such as infant mortality and life expectancy. Health care cost in the U.S. is currently 18 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and is projected to reach 34 percent by 2040. Currently, we spend $6,100 per person each year for health care. In contrast, other developed countries, (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden and the United Kingdom) spend 8 percent to 10 percent of GDP and $2,800 to $3,500 per person per year for health care. The U.S. ranks 33rd in a study of the World Health Organization ranking infant mortality and 36th in life expectancy. This is not a good score card.2. Health care rates are high due to the new law.Recently, a prominent Republican representative said, "It's important we repeal Obamacare as soon as possible because it is already harming the economy and killing jobs. Employers are seeing their costs for providing health insurance skyrocket and that's causing them to hold off on hiring and job creation." As of Jan. 1, 2011, several provisions of ACA have been initiated. Drug companies will be required to pay a levy of $2.5 billion to the government to help offset the cost of drugs for the newly insured. Expenditures in the ACA will include lowering prescription drug costs and expanding preventive services for Medicare patients. Health insurance companies will now be required to pay 80 percent to 85 percent of premium cost on insurance claims or for activities that improve one's health. Not until 2014 will the 32 million previously uninsured individuals be covered by the bill. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the new law will reduce the federal deficit by $230 billion over the first 10 years. Those who like the new law want to believe the numbers, and those who don't can find reasons to question this outcome. The undisputed point is that health care costs in the United States have been out of control for decades and the current trend must be curtailed. The rates for 2011 have nothing to do with the ACA.3. The ACA is a government takeover of health care. In the current context of health care funding in the United States, figures show that in 2009, the U.S. spent $2.5 trillion, of which government programs (mostly Medicare and Medicaid) account for $1.2 trillion. By 2012, more than half of health care costs will be paid for by state and federal governments. Thus the government is already a huge player in paying health care costs. This isn't new. It is true that the ACA does have numerous regulations. There are many examples of state and federal regulatory bodies that function in the public sector without change in ownership, such as FAA regulations of publicly traded airlines. In addition, the ACA law still relies on the free market. Employers will continue to pick insurance through private companies. There will be no change in ownership of hospitals, and physicians will not become government employees. This is not a government takeover.4. Formation of "death panels" is a key section in ACA.
Chron.com Web Search by YAHOO!
Businesses
HPD: Driver accidentally strikes wife in garage, killing herChaos engulfs Cairo; Mubarak points to succession Dallas-area teen pays $637 fine for cursing in classHusband charged in fight with man seen with wifeWrong turn on exit ramp ends in fiery fatal wreck
HPD: Husband faces charges in confrontation with other man(118)Dallas-area teen pays $637 fine for cursing in class(90)Texas police await Mexican officials in missionary slaying probe(54)Palin issues scathing response to Obama speech (48)Small plane crashes in NW Harris County backyard(45)
Workplace threats pose a challenge for employers Bill King: No obvious reason why city’s crime rate is down Let’s spread the burden of state budget cuts equally Letters: Police act caught on video
NOW
27 o
35Comments 48Recommend
Page 1 of 3Time to dispel the myths about health care reform | Viewpoints, Outlook | Chron.com - H...
2/10/2011http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/7404089.html
nawwal 11:35 AM on January 30, 2011
REPLY (19) (11) POPULARITY: 8 | | [Report Abuse]
1 reply
Nice to read a rational and intelligent article on the health care legislation, not so nice to read some of the ignorant, biased, and uninformed comments made here.
kropotin 4:54 PM on January 30, 2011
REPLY (10) (3) POPULARITY: 7 | | [Report Abuse]
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the new law will reduce the federal deficit by $230 billion over the first 10 years. Those who like the new law want to believe the numbers, and those who don't can find reasons to question this outcome. 10 YEARS OF INCOME-6 YEARS OF EXPENDITURES
georgex 4:28 PM on January 30, 2011
REPLY (9) (4) POPULARITY: 5 | | [Report Abuse]
2 replies
Of course the costs of health care in our country will continue to go up. But the reform will slow it some and include more people eventually which should make for a more healthy population. This is just a start to try to control the costs. Just removing the private companies from the Medicare Part D and allowing Medicare to negociated lower prices for drugs would save a bundle. Politics and lobbyists were responsible for not doing that in the first place.
In 2010, when a proposal was made to encourage end-of-life planning for Medicare patients, a political fight erupted over the idea that "death panels" were going to be set up to stop care for critically ill patients. There was no evidence this planning process would encourage euthanasia. In any case, it was removed from the ACA. Nonetheless, a recent poll by the Kansas Family Foundation found 30 percent of Americans age 65 and older believe the new health care law provides for a government panel to make decisions about end-of-life care for people on Medicare.In summary, our country is spending an unsustainable amount of money on an inefficient system of health care that only covers 80 percent of the population. Repeal of the ACA with a return to the previous status can not be an acceptable option.Hopefully, people will begin to better understand the issues involved and guide our politicians to a resolution which will make the United States the model for other nations.Stein is the former executive dean at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Most Popular Comments
View Comments (35)
Permanent Weight Loss Covered By Most Insurance Providers Seewww.TrueResults.com
1 tip for a flat belly Follow 1 bizarre food tip and lose poundseatcleandiet.com
Health and Nutrition Customized nutrition plans in Thewww.woodlandswellnessmd.com
'Kill Your Wrinkles' Dermatologists don't want you knowingwww.FoxNews8.com
Ads by Yahoo!
New to the site?
To use commenting, you need to sign up.
Sign up
Forgot Password?
Log in
Already a member?
Please log in.
Remember Me
Add Your Comment
Password
WeatherChron CommonsTraffic
CHRONHomeHouston & TexasNationBusiness
KingwoodLake HoustonMagnoliaMemorial
NEIGHBORHOODSAldineAliefBaytownBellaire
MARKETPLACEJobsHomesCarsClassifieds
SERVICESHelpBusiness directoryLegal noticesContact us
MEMBERSHIPSign upLog in
Page 2 of 3Time to dispel the myths about health care reform | Viewpoints, Outlook | Chron.com - H...
2/10/2011http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/7404089.html
TOPICSSmall BusinessPetsHoustonMomHoustonHoustonBeliefGardening29-95
SportsEntertainmentLifeTravelCorrectionsBlogs
MontrosePasadenaPearland SpringTomballWest UThe Woodlands
Clear LakeConroeCy-FairEast EndFort BendHeightsKaty
Place a classified adPlace a retail adContests
Send us tipsAbout the companyEmployment opportunitiesAdvertise with usBuy a banner ad
OTHER EDITIONSHome deliveryMobileRSS feedsChronicle In Educatione-EditionBreaking news alerts
Houston AttorneysLOCAL SERVICES
Houston Salons Houston HVAC Contractors
Privacy statement | Terms of service | About Our Ads Copyright © 2011 The Houston Chronicle
Page 3 of 3Time to dispel the myths about health care reform | Viewpoints, Outlook | Chron.com - H...
2/10/2011http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/7404089.html
