Two pressure points are emerging in Congress's rush to pass health-care legislation by the August break: how to pay for the package and whether to create a new public health-insurance plan. Full Story »
Posted by Derek Hawkins
Identifies some of the key players lined up to debate a health care reform bill this summer, highlighting concerns about the immense cost of such reform. A fair preview of what will surely become louder disagreements in coming weeks.
The White House wants to seize on the president’s popularity and Americans’ growing frustration with health care. More »
Health care reform issues can be very confusing. This piece attempts to bring clarity by focusing on only two issues, but I didn't find it particularly elucidating. More clear, though also more partisan, is Ezra Klein's piece in the Washington Post (see links)
The wall street journal is so modest ....they don't take credit for offering major thorns. Never mind debunking the dumb blinders, look the other way, corporate (health care/insurance) owned government's complete ignore the will of the citizens.
Lobbying should be done on television before a live audience. No money from individuals or corporations/ organizations should sully the democratic process. The facts are not presented in this article.
There is some good background on some thorny details. Single payer is not mentioned. Insurance company attempts to kill the health care bill are not so categorized. The nationwide outrage at dropping single payer is not mentioned.
Effectively repeats Democratic and Republican talking points about the battle to change health insurance with no mention of single payer or of an increased reliance on primary care that would dramatically reduce the cost of health care by increasing preventive care, decreasing emergency department visits, and decreasing duplication of tests. Democrats say/Republicans say, but without independent analysis by the authors.
Without an increased emphasis on primary care, insurance will become progressively more expensive. Without attention to the public plan, this "reform" will be little more than a requirement that we give the insurance companies more money.
What possible business does the insurance industry have meddling in the practice of medicine? (Hint: KA-CHING!) And why does the media so studiously avoid asking this question? Until the insurance industry is summarily removed from the equation, there can be no substantive change to the disconnected system of health care options which currently confound Americans. The huge disparity in fees, premiums, reimbursements, allowed services, and 'reasonable and customary" treatments between myriad medical gatekeepers for the same protocols and procedures--is simply not sustainable, nor is it a just or rational component of any economic blueprint for delivering medical care to the country. Yet no news outlet will discuss the ... More »
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