I don't know of a better way to generate conversation (or knock-down-drag-out-brawls) than by bringing up politics:
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.healthcare.html
I'm curious to know what others think about the presumptive candidates positions. Comment to my blog and take the poll.
Personally, I'm a bit torn. I often find myself debating between which is better-- equality of opportunity or equality of outcome. In the case of healthcare, I think we have a moral and ethical responsibility to ensure equality of opportunity for all--that is, ensuring access to care, especially in underserved areas (rural and poor areas of our country), and finding ways to extend community health care initiatives and preventative care initiatives. I also think we need reforms to make health care more efficient and affordable, such as through medical malpractice reform and using physician extenders (Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants) to help ease the burden of the number of patients requiring primary care. As an ER nurse, I'm acutely aware of the desparate need for primary care providers, especially for the poor. Much of what I care for in the emergency room is far from being an "emergent" condition and would be more appropriately and more economically managed in an office, but many cannot see a provider for weeks, if at all, due to Medicaid restrictions or lack of insurance. If we strive for equality of outcome, then total universal coverage for all Americans would be the only way to acheive that all people have their medical needs paid, but at what cost to our own wallets? I hate to say that I consider my own wallet in this conversation, but with prices for basic needs rising at an incredible rate, I fear the rising tax bill as well. I would love to think that we could acheive a utopic healthy society where all people have their medical needs met, however, I think it's naive to believe that. I believe the more practical solution is to create avenues to affordable health care while encouraging personal responsibility for one's needs and the needs of one's family.
I certainly don't have the answer, but I would like to know what you think. Leave comments and let's have a discussion!
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2 comments:
Ah...personal responsibility..."therein lies the rub"! I AM happy to see a more moderate & practical approach to a form of universal healthcare in your blog, than any of the candidates seem to offer...or even Parents magazine! I wonder HOW to go about helping the poor/underserved people without taxing everyone else so much that we all become poor. Or helping those in need without putting everyone on Gov't medicare/caid at the expense of drs, quality of care, etc... it seems to be such a big mess!
There are so many variables... I doubt we will ever find a solution that works ideally for all people, especially in a diverse nation like ours. I pray for some answers in the next few years and Wisdom of the Holy Spirit to guide our next President.
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