A Healthcare Emergency

I am reminded of the comments of a caller to the morning program on C-SPAN recently who asked why reporters were not giving the facts about Healthcare in the United States.  She went on to say that Americans are waiting for real information and are sick of relying on the FAX (party line and industry talking points) but not the facts. “We are capable of making decisions,” she said.

Here’s the stunning part.  The host of the program responded to the caller by saying the reporters job is to tell what each side is saying. “But what about the facts?”  There was silence.  I hope that silence was an admission of a ray of enlightenment of what is sorely missing not only in this program, but many news programs that say they are above entertaining us, but are trying to provide an informational service and not picking sides but siding with the facts, not just the FAX (political talking points).

We need wisdom not gamesmanship; like lets grade the president.  Please, can we have an honest moment?  What is the fear of putting the facts out there, is it because the game and trifle of hoodwinking ends?

Truth is a hard sale.  Both Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite said it, but we should do it anyway.

So, reporters, factually does the American Healthcare system need reform?

Is the current Healthcare system a drag on the economy and the U.S. economic recovery?

Do Americans with Healthcare care about those who do not have any or can’t afford Health Insurance? How many Americans don’t have Healthcare?  Is this a health problem for the nation according to the CDC, Centers For Disease Control?  Why?  (Perspective reading from the CDC on some chronic ills the nation faces.)

And when we face facts, from 30-thousand feet, for example facts and observations from the World Health Organization (WHO) what we find are reasons that compel movement forward on expanding health services, not, exclusion and entrenchment as leaders face the inequities in health services.  The following excerpt is taken from the WHO 2008 report on Primary Health Care:

“In well-regulated and well-funded health-care systems; in addressing these patterns of exclusion within the health-care sector, the starting point is to create or strengthen networks of accessible quality primary-care services that rely on pooled pre-payment or public resources for their funding. Whether these networks are expanded by contracting commercial or not-for-profit providers, or by revitalizing dysfunctional public facilities is not the critical issue. The point is to ensure that they offer care of an acceptable standard.”

It goes on to say:

“Inequalities in women’s access to health care merit attention. In the United States, for example, declines in female life expectancy of up to five years in over 1000 counties point to differential exposure and clustering of risks to health even as the country’s economy and health sector continues to grow. For a variety of reasons, some groups within these societies are either not reached or insufficiently reached by opportunities for health or services and continue to experience health outcomes systematically inferior to those of more advantaged groups.”

Reporters which counties were identified?  Which states are the counties in question located?  Which congressional districts are the counties?  Why is this happening?  Is it a trend?  Is it an aberration?  Is it true?  Should we care about the life expectancy of some women, all women and to at least check it out? Absurd?

Consider this.  We are the evidence of the present Healthcare system. We reflect wellness or the lack thereof.  We live under the fear of getting cancer, having a heart attack, suffering from stroke, high blood pressure, having a nervous breakdown and miscarriages, HIV-AIDS and there is a resurgence of tuberculosis.

Cancer is an industry now.  It wasn’t when I was a young boy growing up in Cleveland, Ohio in the early 50’s.  I recount the following observations in my yet to be published historical/memoir Saints, Sages and Presidents: Media’s Impressions On A Life:

“My world was safe enough.”

World news did creep in during weekend gatherings at Papa’s house and the men folk talked about the issues… “This thing called cancer is some mean stuff.” “I tell you when they solve the rust problem; they’ll cure cancer,” they would say. Had they surmised oxidation was a factor in both? Hmmm!

There is an industry built around heart attacks. diabetes and HIV-AIDS.  Its as if when Jonas Salk and others who solved polio (through polio prevention vaccines), that the achievement itself and breakthrough came to symbolize bad news in some sectors… No it was and should prevail as symbolizing the promise of “good news;”  a healthy and vibrant people. My ancient teachings inform me that humanity moves forward, it evolves. A word that may fit better for the times we live, is converge.  No matter how much we kick, yell and scream the older we get, the further down life’s trial we find ourselves certain recurring thoughts emerge…”This journey is finite and we want much of it lived healthy, if not all of it… Is that consensus or convergence, or both?”

Somewhere we have gotten off track.  And, some have rightly reported that a number of Presidents have realized that the issue of health or wellness is critical and it must be addressed in the main, so that a true pursuit of happiness for all can occur.

As the C-SPAN caller said, Americans are capable of making good decisions when they are given reliable facts.  Can you give us some hard facts, not the FAX?  Achieving a good policy, a Healthcare Accord, is essential and critical to all citizens now, regardless of allegiances, ratings and circulation numbers.

Delving deeper consider reviewing this update from Washingtonpost.com, which says the public favor a public option component as part of Healthcare reform.

At the end of October the Senate and the House unveiled Healthcare Reforms bills that were similar.

House Democratic leadership step carefully in passage of its affordable healthcare bill.

Saturday, November 7th, the House passed its Healthcare Reform measure by a 220 to 215 vote.

Thursday, December 24th, the Senate passed its Healthcare package by a 60-39 vote.  Not a single Republican Senator voted in favor of the historic health insurance reform measure that would give an estimated 30-million citizens currently without health insurance the right to coverage.

Why?

Why were the Republicans against Social Security?  Why were Republicans against Medicare?

Was it, or is it, because of a belief in staunch individualism?  There is an ancient saying, “go alone and go high, go together and go far.”  Personally I would rather share with others and go far.

Sometimes our contributions do fall short, but we have to do it with people, engage them where they are to have any real meaning…That’s love and it is the only thing that transcends this life.

My thoughts on Christmas Eve, 2009.

The two bills, the Senate’s and the house’s will be hammered into one piece of legislation during conference.

This sentiment echoed across some media, “the Democratic majority is governing.”

Spring 2010, on March 21st in the House of Representatives chamber, a new reality emerged.

Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi laid the groundwork for arguably “the civil rights” legislation of the 21 first century.

Democratic members of the house passed the Senate version of the Healthcare Bill and also passed a fix bill for the Senate to pass to adjust the House passed Senate Bill.  In short Healthcare reform for all Americans has passed and awaits President Obama’s signature.  Mr. Obama’s signature, signing the bill into law, should come this week.

The President and the House leadership, lead by Speaker Nancy Pelosi have kept their promise to deliver Health reform, which they both describe as an historic as well as an important first step in getting the nation where it needs to be, healthier.  The Senate gets a chance this week l to smooth out the legislation which has been described as a major opportunity for all citizens.

President Obama said the work continues.

These are the historic facts so far.

Be wise.  Be well.