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The Business of Health Care Report
For the next two weeks, I'll discuss
what Metroplex business leaders think about health care reform. If you listen to both Democrats and
Republicans, you know they believe reforming health care is one of their tickets to the
White House. Democratic front-runners say what they want most is "universal health
care" but can't say how they'd pay for it. Republicans passed the Medicare prescription
drug bill, now $134 billion over its original estimate. Congress is now sending signals
that making up the difference may come at the expense of reimbursement reductions to
physicians and hospitals. The problem with this dialogue is that
it doesn't have a framework or a context. What's missing are the parameters of a health
care policy for America. Achieving quick wins needs to give way to a more thoughtful,
long-term solution to America's health needs. We're making a start here in North
Texas by joining efforts of the American Hospital Association to conduct forums around
what the principles of a national health care policy should be. Texas Health Resources
started its dialogue with business leaders in a breakfast co-sponsored by the Dallas Business
Journal in January, centering discussion groups around the six principles of the AHA findings:
(1) basic health care services for all; (2) timely accessibility to care; (3) high quality, safe,
technologically innovative care; (4) responsive, accountable care; (5) affordable care; and
(6) personal responsibility. The conversations were invigorating and
enthusiastic. Clearly business leaders -whether from large or small businesses - are launching
the conversation with this dilemma: Is health care a right or a privilege? Next week, I'll have
more on what business leaders told us about health care reform. If you would like to join in the dialogue on
"Creating a Better Health Care Policy for America," attend our business leaders' forum in Fort
Worth April 6. Log on to TexasHealth.org for more information. 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 