American Health

Most know that Senate democrats have issued a statement claiming that the August deadline on Health Care reform imposed by Barack Obama will not be met, but not many know that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel says that they will vote on the legislation, possibly as early as next week.

Emanuel isn't alone, all across the country political pressure is being utilized to gain public support, support of key democrats, and business leaders, and our region hasn't been left out. In a discussion this past Friday, Senator Bob Casey Jr., told a health care roundtable at the Children's Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center that to slow-down and not vote on a health care reform plan would be a mistake.

To "stop is a very bad choice for our country, especially for our economy," the Senator said during health care roundtable. Senator Casey hosted the roundtable via teleconference. He told the group; "I don't have a lot of patience for those who say we need another six months."

More than a dozen high-level health care representatives and advocates attended the small symposium some of which expressed support for an complete overhaul of our country's health care system. The President is intent on implementing a universal coverage system in the United States to cut costs which have increased exponentially, and also to cover a purported 50 million uninsured nationally.

Republican National Committee Chairman, Michael Steele said that; "The Democrats want a government-run health care system that will control your health care, your treatments, your medicines, even what doctors you see. This grand experiment on America is a risk our country cannot afford to take." And yesterday, the senior republican on the committee dealing with health care reform said that it would be difficult for the committee to approve a plan within the next two weeks.

Highmark-Blue Cross/Blue Shield expressed concerns about a government-run insurance program that competes with private insurers. They showed concern that as employers shift health care burden onto the government program, insurers will struggle to remain in business.

When the Canadian system was implemented, this is the way it was done, with a private option and a public option, but as time went on, insurers became less and less able to compete with the a government program in which profit and loss is not a concern, and they over time, incrementally exited the market, leaving only the public option.

A Magee Women's Hospital spokesman gave support for health care reform at Senator Casey's roundtable discussion, but raised concerns about new reimbursement structures that will cut payments to hospitals. He showed concern over a $50 billion reduction in federal payments that compensate hospitals that treat large numbers of uninsured patients. As Magee receives roughly $10 million annually in payments, they have good reason for concern and as such expressed that the hospital's educational programs and outreach centers would suffer extensively.

As the battle heats up further the RNC is initiating a grass-roots movement to deter passage of legislation, while democratic heavyweights push hard for legislation mandating a total overhaul of our healthcare system.

Caught in the middle of this political battle are business and the American citizen, who, as evidenced by recent polls, know that whatever version of legislation is passed, a burden will be levied upon not just the rich, but the middle-class, corporations, small business and the economy as well.
Let me know what you think about health care reform?