Comment by Don McCanne
Harper’s Magazine
has now moved Trudy Lieberman’s “Wrong Prescription?” out from behind
the paywall, making it available for free.
has now moved Trudy Lieberman’s “Wrong Prescription?” out from behind
the paywall, making it available for free.
It
is an extraordinary article that explains the what, why and how we ended
up with the wrong prescription for our sick health care financing
system. Though a fairly long article, reading it and sharing it with
others is an imperative.
is an extraordinary article that explains the what, why and how we ended
up with the wrong prescription for our sick health care financing
system. Though a fairly long article, reading it and sharing it with
others is an imperative.
The article does not dwell on what is the right prescription, but there are basically three options:
1.
Live with ACA, and try to patch the the defects. The problem with this
is that the fundamental infrastructure cannot be repaired. Patches are
inadequate in that the same basic structural flaws would be perpetuated.
Live with ACA, and try to patch the the defects. The problem with this
is that the fundamental infrastructure cannot be repaired. Patches are
inadequate in that the same basic structural flaws would be perpetuated.
2.
Although the Republicans keep telling us that they have a replacement
plan, after five years they have been unable to agree within themselves
on the specifics. That said, they have telegraphed their ideas, and,
combined, they are basically a weaker version of the market-driven
principles already incorporated in the Affordable Care Act. They would
merely weaken oversight of the plans and shift even more responsibility
to the patient-consumer. Being uninsured, underinsurance, and lack of
affordability of adequate coverage would all worsen under their
proposals.
Although the Republicans keep telling us that they have a replacement
plan, after five years they have been unable to agree within themselves
on the specifics. That said, they have telegraphed their ideas, and,
combined, they are basically a weaker version of the market-driven
principles already incorporated in the Affordable Care Act. They would
merely weaken oversight of the plans and shift even more responsibility
to the patient-consumer. Being uninsured, underinsurance, and lack of
affordability of adequate coverage would all worsen under their
proposals.
3. A single payer national health
program - an improved Medicare for all - would finally achieve our goals
of universality, affordability and accessibility while removing
financial barriers through an equitable system of financing. It is the
prescription we desperately need.
program - an improved Medicare for all - would finally achieve our goals
of universality, affordability and accessibility while removing
financial barriers through an equitable system of financing. It is the
prescription we desperately need.
Take a moment
this weekend to read this article and then share it with others. At the
50th anniversary of Medicare, this article is very timely. We have to
fix this system once and for all, but that means that everyone must
understand why ACA was the wrong prescription.
this weekend to read this article and then share it with others. At the
50th anniversary of Medicare, this article is very timely. We have to
fix this system once and for all, but that means that everyone must
understand why ACA was the wrong prescription.
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