Understanding Health Care Reform
March 30, 2010 at 1:22 pm 2 comments
As for the current health care law, I’m not sure what to think of it. I’ve tried to read a little bit about it, but there is so much more to it than I know. My social work fiance is pretty excited about it. It means that a lot of her clients will now be able to get healthcare.
Making it more affordable to get to the doctor would allow more preventative medicine which might prevent long hospital stays. However, they need to be able to see the doctor for that to work and I don’t think there is anything in the bill to make it easier for patients to see doctors. More patients and the same amount of doctors with the same amount of paperwork.
That is why I’m hoping for various reasons that PCP legislature gets passed to make it easier on those country docs. Less paper work and more money.
As it stands, docs still have to report to insurance companies and beg for reimbursement for services rendered. It is also hard for me to see how this is going to reduce health care costs and lower prices on insurance (unless preventative medicine is able to keep costs low).
I don’t really know enough to have a good opinion on this current health care reform, I do feel however that we as a society benefit as a whole from having a healthier population. I do feel that we should constantly work towards a healthier population. I think this is what reform is trying to do and I applaud that. I also think this is just the first step.
I think the first step is making it easier for patients to see doctors. I think the next step is making it easier for doctors to practice medicine on their patients.
What are your opinions on the current attempt on health care reform?
Entry filed under: news. Tags: doctor-patient relationships, follow the money, girlfriend, health care reform, healthcare, insurance, news, public health, strategies.
1.
Lydia | March 30, 2010 at 3:03 pm
There is nothing in the health care bill which encourages Drs to be Drs. The expansion of care without expanding infrastructure, training, etc- yes more people may technically be covered- however, many providers are now going to be stretched so thin they can’t provide the quality expected by those they already serve.
The companies coming forward with what it will cost them- that is just the first pierce in the delusionion balloon that all this “good” can come from denying hard facts.
2.
Brian | March 31, 2010 at 4:28 am
In simple economic terms, look at supply vs demand. The reform’s expansion of insurance coverage dramatically increases demand for health care services. This is a benefit, especially for those otherwise unable to pay for care. The problem, though, is that supply (physicians, nurses, etc) must also increase. The current shortage in nursing and max capacity in medical schools makes it hard for me to believe that supply can even remotely follow the million-liter demand bolus that is about to be injected.