Universal Health Care (Part 1)

Let me start with this disclaimer, HEALTH CARE IS NOT A RIGHT! Now allow me to follow it up with an even more provocative thought, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO! I am intrigued when calamity strikes, people rightfully expect our government to offer a helping hand. However, I have found many who believe they are entitled to a helping hand do not embrace the moral imperative that we and they are to be a part of the helping hand for those on the brink of fiscal calamity as a result of an unforeseen medical catastrophe. I don't presume to know enough about the intricacies of the health care delivery system to offer a fully operative model. I do believe, armed with the moral will to do so, we have enough thinkers In The Middle, who can forge such a solution. I believe there are a few realities such a solution must embrace.

1) Care will be limited! I would love to be an ideologue and state ANY care will be reimbursed. The shear economic realities forbid such a view. The mechanics of what will be limited is going to be messy. However, given that the vast majority of care falls in the realm of routine or common modalities of treatment all people will benefit from such a universal health care. It is often touted our neighbors to the north come here for treatment because they don't want the waits in the Canadian Health are system. On average if you can take a trip in order to avoid a wait you may be the person for whom universal care is not intended.

2) Cost in the short run will go up! I learned when I was a young kid, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Giving access to all Americans will produce an influx that will make cost rise in the short -run. I would assert that treatment for early detected glaucoma and diabetes far less expensive than waiting for the ravages of those conditions.

3) Aggressive use of technologies to pass along information is a must! I am amazed how I can get on the web just a person's name and address and built a rather extensive profile on them. We are so enamored with the concept of complete privacy we fail to realize our STUFF is just not that private. Lets build the best safeguards we can to protect individual privacy while garnering the best efficiencies technology offers.

4) Right now the uninsured are being paid for! The current payment arrangement is grossly inefficient. With coverage we get them treated in a medical providers office instead of in an emergency department.

I am In The Middle! More to follow!