Jas goes Political: a doctor's take on the health care bill

03/24/10

Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably know that this past Sunday the House voted to pass the health care bill.

Most people I've talked to, however, have no idea what the health care bill actually entails much less what it will really do. I've heard lots of general naysayers and also lots of speculation (by non-doctors or health care workers) on how it will surely be detrimental to our health care system and our doctors. I can talk about how health care reform is a good thing until I'm blue in the face; but at the end of the day, I'm just one of the millions that it will help and not professional in the field.

So I decided to ask one about it (a professional in the field, that is). The response I got was very enlightening, and I hope that everyone takes the time to read it and maybe learn a little in the process.

And now without further ado, here is one doctor's take on the health care bill:

"As a primary care pediatrician, I strongly support the bills passed by the House of Representatives on Sunday night. Trying to get through all the rhetoric and arguments, Americans need insurance reform. Every day we delay reform, Americans die from lack of insurance or underinsurance.

Currently, 45 million Americans lack adequate insurance. Many are willing to pay for insurance, but cannot afford it. In contrast, others who work for large corporations or the government receive amazing insurance AT THE TAXPAYER’S EXPENSE. But regardless, for those 45 million Americans who do not have insurance, many will die or get gravely sick because they lack access to health care. The bill has a huge impact on patients with cancer and their treatment. Dr. Maurie Markman, from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses these positive ramifications in a internet video (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/718975) I know cancer patients are breathing easier, realizing they cannot get dropped from their insurance because of their difficult illnesses.

Daily in my work, I hear young and hard working parents report that they are not covered, or their insurance does not cover this or that condition since it is “pre-existing”. One young family reported that their family paid $20,000 in one year for their child’s medication for ADHD. Also, almost daily, I spend 10 to 15 minutes filling out forms and looking through medical records at the request of insurance companies to find out if a certain diagnosis occurred before a child was insured. Obviously, there is a great deal of insurance company money and time insurance companies put into denying people coverage instead of helping them with their health.

The American Academy of Pediatricians, the American College of Physicians, and the American Medical Association all back the current legislation. While the legislation did not address tort reform, I believe access to care will decrease the need for lawsuits. Many people sue physicians to help pay for medical expenses.

A helpful website to see what Health care reform means for each state is http://www.healthreform.gov/

In Tennessee, approximately 950,000 people will be able now to purchase insurance. 595,000 people will get tax cuts to help them purchase insurance. 995,000 seniors will receive preventive services through Medicare. 62,400 small businesses will get tax cuts to help make insurance more affordable to them.

Key points of the bill that go into effect immediately:

• Private insurers will no longer be able to cancel policies of people who get sick except in cases of fraud. They also cannot refuse to cover children with preexisting conditions.

• Insurers may not put lifetime limits on the dollar value of coverage.

• Medicare recipients will receive free preventive care such as cancer screenings without any co-payments or deductibles. They also will receive a $250 rebate to apply toward the coverage gap in the Medicare Part D medication program called the "doughnut hole," which the bill will fully eliminate by 2020.

• Children can remain on their parents' insurance policy up until their 26th birthday.

With all the rhetoric and threats flying around the media and the web, the bottom line is that this legislation will help MILLIONS of American live healthier and longer lives. By fighting this legislation or repealing it, lawmakers are showing a lack of compassion for suffering Americans. Personally, I plan on calling my senators today to make sure they know that I support insurance reform and affordable medical access to health care for all Americans. "