Congressman John Dingell: Why Health Care Can't Wait

[babylonsister]

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/02/why_health_care_cant_wait.html

Why Health Care Can't Wait
By John Dingell

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If we are to succeed in making the necessary changes to reform our health care system, we must begin the process immediately. I know of which I speak, as I served as Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce during our last major push to reform health care in 1994. Too much time passed between a superb February 1993 speech by President Clinton, which won the solid support of the Nation, and the time the legislation arrived in Congress. Inertia stalled, and it became too easy for critics to derail the process. Special interests also commandeered the discussion, pouring as much as $500 million into lobbying against reform.

We cannot allow, nor afford, that to happen again. Our current financial stability and the health of future generations rests in our willingness to take action. We need a system that would lower costs and increase quality of health care, while making it universally available.

I know that Congress has the ability and the ingenuity to create a new approach to health care, however, it is clear that we must not let our window of opportunity go by. We must put forth a plan that will provide the American people with security and the flexibility to choose what's best for themselves and their families. However, for this to work, emphasis must also be put on ensuring that universal coverage truly is universal in that it covers those that are healthy and those that are sick. Congress must guarantee that health insurance does not exclude pre-existing conditions or limit care for families buying their own insurance. For these families and small businesses, we must also increase competition in the insurance market so that affordable options are available. Congress will have to be vigilant in its oversight, to ensure federal dollars that are being spent on health care are being spent wisely, and not simply to line the pockets of corporate executives and insurers.

As we move towards national coverage, we have to ensure that we have the public health infrastructure necessary to support additional patients. This includes addressing education and training of the next generation of health professionals, new investment into research and development for cures to chronic and debilitating diseases, disease management programs to improve outcomes, and improving access to school-based health care and support services.

These are lofty goals; however, they are also achievable goals. I firmly believe that if Congress ensures that everyone is invested, that means individuals, small and large employers, providers, insurers, state and federal governments, we can deliver a health care reform bill to President Obama by the end of the year. Through collaborative thinking and collective action, we can and we will put together a good, bipartisan bill that will ensure the working men and women in this country will never have to worry about access to health care. {You can read my letter to President Obama here (at link)(pdf).}]

I know that this requires much work on my part, and for those that know me well, you know I never back away from a challenge. For more than 50 years, I have fought for universal coverage, and there has been no better opportunity than now. I will not let this window slip by, and I urge my friends, my colleagues, and the American people to join with me in making 2009 the year major health care reform legislation is delivered to the Oval Office.


Congressman John D. Dingell represents Michigan’s 15th Congressional District and is the Chairman Emeritus of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/02/why_health_care_cant_wait.html

[OhioChick]

1. K&R

:kick:

[Hissyspit]

2. Health care can't wait.

[Lugnut]

3. K&R n/t

[DCKit]

4. We already spend more per capita on healthcare than any country with Universal coverage...

The money's already out there, we just need to pry it back out of industry's claws.

This is an industry that is willing to spend as much (or more) money to deny services to it's customers - killing some, in the process - than it would cost them to simply provide these services for the benefit of those who pay them.

The health-care industry, as it is, deserves to be starved to death, dismembered and buried in an unmarked grave on unhallowed ground with a stake in it's heart, it's head cut off and turned backwards and plenty of iron, salt and silver for decoration.