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Victor R. Fuchs and Ezekiel J. Emanuel Health Care Reform: Why? What? When? Health Affairs, November/December 2005; 24(6): 1399-1414. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Reprints & Permissions]

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Health Care Financing Is Not Seen As A 'National Crisis'

Joan M. Cadenhead   ( 27 April 2006 )

Health Care Financing Is Not Seen As A 'National Crisis' 27 April 2006
Joan M. Cadenhead, Information Systems Business Analyst - Health Insurance Delivery ASQ, Capella University, HIDA Send letter to journal: Re: Health Care Financing Is Not Seen As A 'National Crisis' JCADEN81D{at}aol.com Joan M. Cadenhead	Our system of government for and by the people which we pride ourselves on lacks one vital ingredient, and that is the “people.” How can we boast of being the best in the world when we allow our most valuable resource to go without social welfare -- health, education, housing, and food? Unless, we, all of us, begin to see the lack of health care financing options and require everyone -- corporations, government, people with more discretionary incomes -- to be responsible and accountable, then we will only have ourselves to blame. We cannot dress up and continue to be superficial when our infrastructure is filled with neglect, mismanagement, and abuse. Most nations that we deem "Third World" develop plans for social welfare where no one in their country lacks some level of basic health care. And, this is done freely with minimal or no consideration for the cost, because all focus in on the care. There is only one difference between us and the less fortunate countries we deemed poorer (or Third World), and that is that they provide care based on the resources they have -- medical professionals, allied health care, and medical supplies. We in this country provide care based on the resources the patient has to pay for it -- cold hard cash, valid insurance coverage, home, or any other easily liquidated asset(s). How long will we continue to do this without risking our valuable resources? The questions should not be that of incremental or comprehensive reform. Or which issues has the higher priority -- reforming the financing system or improving organization and delivery. It should be how long are we going to keep our heads in the sand and allow unnecessary suffering, degradation, and economic and social loss?