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The Business of Health Care Report
Today, I want to discuss
what we know won’t work as we attempt to reform America’s health care system. Health care reform has
been an issue in this country since Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose Party first
introduced national health insurance proposals to the United States in 1912.
Since that time, numerous plans to create universal health coverage have been
developed, modified and debated. All have ultimately been rejected. Over the past century,
presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Nixon and Clinton offered proposals to Congress
for health care reform. One year after President Clinton unveiled his health
plan to the nation about a decade ago – the plan was dead. Even with initial
public support well above 60 percent, nonstop campaigning to drum up additional
support for reform and White House control of both houses of Congress,
President Clinton was unable to pass a health care bill. Ultimately, a strong
resistance to government interference was too much to overcome. Divided government and health
care politics create inherent barriers to the passage of reform legislation. This
can no longer be an excuse. We must overcome political obstacles to move forward
on health care reform. The public demands it. The United States spends more
on health care than any other country in the world, yet millions of Americans lack
basic medical insurance. Health care reform is more critical than ever, but
creating an ideal health reform plan that assures access, quality, and cost
control – and is compelling enough to survive the legislative process – won’t be
easy. While it’s unlikely that a
total government plan is the answer, it’s time to put politics aside and work
together to repair America’s health care delivery system. 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 