Current health care system needs reformed
Letter to the Editor
Current health care system needs reformed
To the Editor:
I think we can all agree our health care system needs to be fixed. Why are we arguing about the costs of Medicaid and whether there will be 27 or 23 million without health care? The real problem is the costs of medical care in this country compared to those in the rest of the world. Not one congressman of either party is addressing this problem.
The focus of this new health care bill should be to lower costs and, if so, it should be with bipartisan support. I have several suggestions on how we can lower costs without cutting benefits, which is what the congressional plan is doing.
First, allow the selling of insurance across state lines. Broadening the market and competition should lower costs, without cutting services. Second, everyone should have insurance and eventually the problem of pre-existing conditions coverage will go away. Everyone, even the poorest, should pay something for health services so they are not abused. Third, we should be able to shop health care services. When I need an X-ray, cat scan, or some other medical service, give me a list of providers with costs. Fourth, allow the purchase of prescription drugs on a worldwide, competitive market. Again, give me lists of competitive prices. Costs would come down to lower levels paid by the rest of the world. Fifth, a large percentage of Medicaid money goes to nursing homes, which cost $5,000-6,000 per month. The care level in nursing homes is at about 10 patients to one nursing aid. How about three seniors who need nursing home care living in one of their houses, which is paid off? I would estimate expenses at under $2,000 per month. You could hire a 24/7 live-in health care worker for maybe $3,000 per month plus room and board. Family could step in to help with doctor appointments or for grocery shopping, etc.
We are at a cost of $5,000 per month for three seniors instead of one. In many cases, the income of the three seniors would cover most of this cost with a Medicaid subsidy for the rest. We could cut Medicaid costs by more than two-thirds and improve the quality of life and care for seniors. Sixth, reform malpractice insurance to lower costs for our medical providers and do something to lower medical school costs. Perhaps the government subsidizing the cost of medical school in return for medical personnel working at lower pay in Medicaid clinics for so many years.
Now, if I can think of these cost cutting ideas to explore, why can’t our congressmen? To our senators, Mr. Portman and Mr. Brown, you were elected to represent the people who voted for you. Take the initiative in a bipartisan movement to lower health care costs for all of us. Don’t just put another Band-Aid on the system that is not working because it is unaffordable. Don’t talk about having “choices” because the only choice one truly has is what one can afford.
Donna Hamilton
Wadsworth
To the Editor:
I think we can all agree our health care system needs to be fixed. Why are we arguing about the costs of Medicaid and whether there will be 27 or 23 million without health care? The real problem is the costs of medical care in this country compared to those in the rest of the world. Not one congressman of either party is addressing this problem.
The focus of this new health care bill should be to lower costs and, if so, it should be with bipartisan support. I have several suggestions on how we can lower costs without cutting benefits, which is what the congressional plan is doing.
First, allow the selling of insurance across state lines. Broadening the market and competition should lower costs, without cutting services. Second, everyone should have insurance and eventually the problem of pre-existing conditions coverage will go away. Everyone, even the poorest, should pay something for health services so they are not abused. Third, we should be able to shop health care services. When I need an X-ray, cat scan, or some other medical service, give me a list of providers with costs. Fourth, allow the purchase of prescription drugs on a worldwide, competitive market. Again, give me lists of competitive prices. Costs would come down to lower levels paid by the rest of the world. Fifth, a large percentage of Medicaid money goes to nursing homes, which cost $5,000-6,000 per month. The care level in nursing homes is at about 10 patients to one nursing aid. How about three seniors who need nursing home care living in one of their houses, which is paid off? I would estimate expenses at under $2,000 per month. You could hire a 24/7 live-in health care worker for maybe $3,000 per month plus room and board. Family could step in to help with doctor appointments or for grocery shopping, etc.
We are at a cost of $5,000 per month for three seniors instead of one. In many cases, the income of the three seniors would cover most of this cost with a Medicaid subsidy for the rest. We could cut Medicaid costs by more than two-thirds and improve the quality of life and care for seniors. Sixth, reform malpractice insurance to lower costs for our medical providers and do something to lower medical school costs. Perhaps the government subsidizing the cost of medical school in return for medical personnel working at lower pay in Medicaid clinics for so many years.
Now, if I can think of these cost cutting ideas to explore, why can’t our congressmen? To our senators, Mr. Portman and Mr. Brown, you were elected to represent the people who voted for you. Take the initiative in a bipartisan movement to lower health care costs for all of us. Don’t just put another Band-Aid on the system that is not working because it is unaffordable. Don’t talk about having “choices” because the only choice one truly has is what one can afford.
Donna Hamilton
Wadsworth
