The World Around You

I came across an excellent column about the myths on both sides of the healthcare debate this morning from a writer in Maine named Gordon Weil, because he starts out debunking myths being spread by our own Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL)

Myth 1. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., says that Obama risks “destroying the best health-care system the world has ever known.” In reality, it is far from the best.

Because an estimated 50 million Americans do not have any health insurance, they have little access and get less care. For them, we do not have the best system.

Life expectancy in Japan, France and many other countries is greater than in the U.S. Infant mortality is higher in the U.S. than in many other countries.

We rank first in only two categories. We spend more per person on health care than any other country, and we have the best emergency rooms.

Myth 2. Shelby says there is a “marketplace for health care” — competition among insurers and providers that supposedly produces lower costs and the best care.

But care is not the best. And the federal government itself has banned competition in drug pricing under prescription insurance plans.

Recently, we learned that health care costs in McAllen, Texas, were the highest in the country because almost all doctors there ordered tests without limit. Average medical costs were higher than average income.

What kind of marketplace is that?

In Rochester, Minn., where the famed Mayo Clinic is located, costs were little more than one-third of the McAllen “market.”

The healthcare system we have is far from the best in the world, though we do have the best doctors, hospitals and the latest and greatest technology. The problem is that in order to have a good healthcare system, you have to have ALL citizens getting healthcare, until we fill that gap, we will continue to lag behind the rest of the world.

And on the other side he offers the following myths,

Myth 6. We can reform health care without raising taxes.

You cannot cover millions more people without added cost. If government mandates more coverage, government should pay for it. That means higher taxes or more debt.

The only way to lower costs and cover more people would be a single-payer system. Taxes would replace insurance premiums. Covering added costs through savings is an empty promise.

Even if government purchasing power lowers some costs, health-care reform means somebody’s taxes will increase.

Myth 7. Obama has a health-care plan.

Having seen the failure of President Clinton’s effort to impose a plan, Obama is leaving too much to Congress. He needs to take charge.

As much as many want to lay the responsibility for the plans currently working their way through Congress firmly at the feet of the President, the issue is that he did not propose a detailed plan and is not dictating the details to Congress. He started to lay out a few additional parameters this week, but he needs to do more to chart the course for Congress and keep the bill-writing process moving. Otherwise, it will stagnate and the opportunity to get a deal done this year will be lost.

Too many millions of Americans have gone too long without affordable, accessible healthcare and we cannot let this opportunity slip away. I know the President knows that, but he needs to start providing the strong leadership needed to get it done.

Health-care debate complicated by myths from both sides.