http://hopestreetgroup.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/serious-health-care-reform-requires-compromise/ A new generation of business executives and professionals dedicated to achieving prosperity and opportunity in America Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:40:23 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://hopestreetgroup.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/serious-health-care-reform-requires-compromise/#comment-3115 Ken Terry Fri, 21 Sep 2007 12:56:16 +0000 http://hopestreetgroup.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/serious-health-care-reform-requires-compromise/#comment-3115 I agree that we need to find a common ground for compromise between liberals and conservatives on health care reform. But to do that, we have to agree on principles. So far, only the Democratic candidates are talking about the need for universal health care, while the Republicans are talking about liberating market forces to bring down health costs and allow more people to buy insurance. The first step is for both sides to talk about whether health care is a right, and if so, whether we need to give everyone access to good, comprehensive health care. Then we can begin to address the issues involved in doing that. Neither side is addressing the fact that we can't provide universal coverage until we figure out how to control costs. And neither the Democrats nor the Republicans will admit that there's no way to do that until we restructure how health care is delivered and how providers are incentivized. The Democrats want to expand government programs and require both individuals and employers to contribute to health care--all necessary but not sufficient. The Republicans talk about changing the tax system, demanding "personal responsibility" for lifestyle choices, and bringing down costs by arming employers and consumers with the data they need to do "value-based" purchasing. Meanwhile, we're spending twice as much per capita on health care as any other country, with arguably poorer results, and we don't want to do anything to disturb the apple cart of hospitals, physicians, insurance companies, and drug companies. Let's agree on principles and deal with the real problems. I agree that we need to find a common ground for compromise between liberals and conservatives on health care reform. But to do that, we have to agree on principles. So far, only the Democratic candidates are talking about the need for universal health care, while the Republicans are talking about liberating market forces to bring down health costs and allow more people to buy insurance. The first step is for both sides to talk about whether health care is a right, and if so, whether we need to give everyone access to good, comprehensive health care. Then we can begin to address the issues involved in doing that.
Neither side is addressing the fact that we can’t provide universal coverage until we figure out how to control costs. And neither the Democrats nor the Republicans will admit that there’s no way to do that until we restructure how health care is delivered and how providers are incentivized. The Democrats want to expand government programs and require both individuals and employers to contribute to health care–all necessary but not sufficient. The Republicans talk about changing the tax system, demanding “personal responsibility” for lifestyle choices, and bringing down costs by arming employers and consumers with the data they need to do “value-based” purchasing. Meanwhile, we’re spending twice as much per capita on health care as any other country, with arguably poorer results, and we don’t want to do anything to disturb the apple cart of hospitals, physicians, insurance companies, and drug companies. Let’s agree on principles and deal with the real problems.

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