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The news media is all abuzz with health care reform rhetoric, waiting with baited breath for the unveiling of Obama’s plan to make good on one of his big campaign promises, which reportedly is going to cost $15.5 billion. The Los Angeles Times reported that the Business Roundtable, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, AARP and the Service Employees International Union urge that a healthcare overhaul be a priority in the administration’s first 100 days (see Los Angeles Times), but they haven’t said exactly what aspect of health care that they want overhauled. This ad hoc group intends to spend $1 million on advertising to keep the public eye on Obama in hopes of focusing the new President’s attention on health care as a top national priority.
Additionally, the Business Roundtable expressed its concern on health care cost inflation and lack of access due to an uninsured population of 46 million. The group’s spokespersons stated that Obama made “health care reform” a major plank in his campaign but has yet to unveil what he is going to reform and how soon.
Moreover, other media journalists write that health reform is on the horizon. This entire barrage of media rhetoric begs the question, “What will Obama reform?” The two main concerns that public advocates and pundits are expressing today are access to health care for the 46 million uninsured people and the ever-increasing costs. While those are important issues indeed, we have not seen or heard a single word about the ever-decreasing quality of health care services what with the nursing shortage, hospitals strapped for cash and doctors practicing defensive medicine. No one is paying attention to the fact that medical/nursing errors and hospital mistakes are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States today.
In conclusion, hospitals, while saving lives, are killing more people than automobile accidents, breast cancer and aids. Two hundred thousand people die each year unnecessarily and hundreds of thousands more suffer catastrophic injury. After reviewing more than 200 news releases on this subject of health care reform, I have not found one word about reforming the way providers deliver their services to prevent so much tragedy; more than 2 million unnecessary deaths in the last 10 years. It is an unmitigated disaster and no one is paying attention. Hello-o-o-o-o-o!
Want to know why we need health care reform? Watch this video!
Other sources:
The Swamp: Chicago Tribunes Washington Bureau
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Northern Colorado Business Report