What are the 5 biggest myths?

The 5 biggest myths circulation around health care reform through all channels of media and confusing a whole lot of people are:

1. It would lead to a government take over

2. An overhaul would lead to rationing, where people face denials or delays in health care

3. The bills do nothing to address out-of-control cost growth

4. If you like your health insurance you can keep it

5. The bills are too big, and changes should be tackled one by one instead of all at the same time

These are some important myths that need to be answered before the public can agree with health care reform. Read the explanations or truths here

Oh politics... I don't think I will ever understand you

I like to think that I am a moderate when it comes to politics. I pride myself on the fact that I can see issues from both sides before making a final decision. However, lately the Republicans have been too much for me to deal with. It seems no matter what they are going to kill health care reform. What I can not understand is why.

Ok it will will be expensive. But isn't health care already too expensive. Medicare might be expanded. This can be good since Medicare as of right now might not exist in 8 years and bankrupt the country. A lot of people will be affected by new insurance policies. OK yes but the more people who have insurance, the more likely the cost will go down. Many doctors will have to change how they practice medicine. This can be good if quality and efficiency increases.

Oh maybe they don't want to support reform because it is not going to go their way, and they might not be re-elected. With the way they helped the economy drop, I guess I would be worried about my job too. (of course I am a big believer of new blood in the government)

The worst however is when they act like they want reform, and then behind the democrats back, they bash the bill and are no longer playing nice. Here is a nice example of that.

Another Reform Idea

Here is an interesting idea: pilot programs. We really have no idea what is and what is not going to work for reforming the health care system. We have some models around the country that consistently see high quality while lowering costs, but they have had years to perfect this technique. However, each area of the country faces their own unique challenges, opportunities and population variations. So maybe each area should use what works best for them instead of forcing everyone to do the same thing. As long as we all have the overall goal of reducing cost and increasing quality, maybe this could work.

Atul Gawande, surgeon and writer, suggests this strategy and some other needed reforms to payment and quality. He has been right in the past, so maybe he will be right again with health care reform.

Read his full story in the New Yorker

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/12/14/091214fa_fact_gawande?currentPage=1

Debating Health Care costs

Health care costs is the number one biggest debated topic for reform. Some say the costs will go down (after partially going up to get things moving) while other argue costs will just continuously increase after insuring more people. There is also a small number that believe costs and Medicare will operate the same after reform as it operates now- inefficient with lack of quality.

Most agree that we need to reform cost before reforming other quality issues in health care such as prevention or medical errors; however, no one can agree how it will all pan out once reform is passed.

Personally I think we should just let the experts figure it all out. I am not an economist, nor are the majority of politicians or Americans for that matter, so we should be concerned (obviously) but giving our opinions just confuse the topic more.

Check out this article for more information on both sides debating cost control

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Columns/2009/December/120309Capretta.aspx

Another great cost containment concept

Waste and inefficiency is estimated to account for about 30% - 40% of total health care costs. Studies show that the largest drivers of waste are:

- fee-for-service incentives

- lack of consumer responsibility

- defensive medicine

- excess bureaucracy

- fraud

We don't need to create a whole new health care system, but we do need to address this waste in the system. Until we change how we do things, we will continue to waste our money and not see improved outcomes.

For more see this blog post by Philip K. Howard

How to Control Health Care Costs

Check out this great blog post by Stephen Shortell, PHD, MPH, MBA

He eloquently explains that reform will not work unless "we slow the rapid growth of health care spending". This can be solved not by expanding coverage, but by actually reforming the system. We need to focus on prevention and living a healthier lifestyle. We need to change the incentive program for hospitals and physicians. The system need to worker hard at comparing effectiveness of different techniques/procedures/drugs.

It is possible for costs to decrease by having a more efficient and effective health care system that focuses on what is best for the patient, not the financial gains.

Young adults Don't Welcome Health Insurance Mandates

Kaiser Health News reports that young adults do not like that the new health bills will require them to have insurance. Many young adults are healthy and feel they don't need health insurance. So why should they pay for it?

They should pay for it for the greater society as a whole. "Young adults are the balance to the new rule, which also forces those least likely to need medical care to participate in a health plan in order to keep prices from inflating" (Rodewald, 11/11).

If everyone has insurance, it helps lower costs of the overall insurance pool. Also it will help ER units in hospitals from overcrowding because everyone will (in theory) have their own doctor to go to for such ailments as the flu. Also preventative services will increase if everyone has insurance.

But what if they can't afford it? Thats what the insurance reform is suppose to fix, but more on that in another post.

KHN reported their summary from a Northwestern paper from Oshkosh, WI