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The Business of Health Care Report
Today, I’d like to focus on the
problem of health care access. Most everyone agrees that the
American health care system is the best in the world. Another agreement is that
accessing that world-class care is too variable. As a result, our nation’s health
is not what you’d expect. Heart disease, diabetes, asthma and obesity plague this
country. Personal health decisions obviously come into play, but inadequate access
to health care also contributes to an overall weakening of our nation’s health –
especially for chronic ailments that worsen without regular medical attention. The American Hospital Association
is among several national organizations advocating a new-and-improved health care
system that provides affordable coverage for everyone’s basic health care needs. With
almost 44 million Americans now going about their daily lives without health insurance,
this clearly is a major undertaking. But consider the alternatives.
Uninsured children are seven times less likely to receive medical care than children
with health insurance. Like ripples in a pond, these uninsured kids tend to miss more
school and their academic achievement suffers. All of society pays dearly when this
cycle repeats. For the elderly, the issue is width
and breadth of coverage. For example, Medicare covers most hospital and preventive care,
but not long-term and mental-health care. For low-income women and their children, Medicaid
may cover the basics, but not for other members of their families. As the American Hospital Association
points out, “People are concerned that the kind of access they have to health care services
depends on the type of insurance coverage they can afford.” It’s time we take some of this variability
out of health care, so that our reputation as the home of the world’s best health care rings
true for all of us, not just those with the best insurance. For Texas Health Resources
and its family of hospitals - Harris Methodist Hospitals, Presbyterian
Healthcare System and Arlington Memorial Hospital - I'm CEO
Doug Hawthorne
with "The Business of Health Care Report" on NewsRadio 1080 KRLD.
©
2004 Texas Health Resources |
I'm Doug Hawthorne, President and CEO of Texas Health Resources, with
"The Business of Health Care Report" on 