No Problem So Bad

As an orthopaedic spine surgeon, I have been told many times by patients with inoperable chronic back pain, that their problem is so bad I must operate on them. Typically I then explain to them that there are spinal problems for which surgery can be helpful and other problems for which it is not: the point being- there is no problem so bad that it can’t be made worse by undergoing inappropriate surgery.

The current healthcare debate is very much reminiscent of this “you gotta do something doc” scenario. Much of the argument from those pushing the current healthcare reform bill goes akin to “Our healthcare system is broken and we need to do something.” Further, they unfairly accuse those of us who oppose the Government takeover of healthcare of not recognizing the need for reform and of wanting to maintain the status quo.

While discussion of quality and accessibility of American health-care generates significant debate and controversy, most agree that spiraling health care costs increasingly impose financial burdens on individuals, families and businesses. In a recent Wall Street Journal article (Fixing Health Care is Good for Business 8-28-09), Commerce Secretary Gary Locke convincingly and logically argues that “rising health-care costs are crushing American companies—particularly small businesses that are the source of much of our economic vitality.” This assessment reflects the economic reality.

However, he then goes on to say: “President Obama has articulated three broad criteria for reform. Reduce costs, protect Americans' choice of doctors and insurance plans, and assure quality and affordable health care for any American who wants it.” Yet the President’s criterion for reform amounts to empty rhetoric. At no time during the current health care debate has President Obama articulated a substantive general frame work for achieving such reform.

Lastly, Locke asserts: “The bills working through Congress are moving in the right direction, and despite some setbacks, this nation is closer to fundamental health-care reform than we have ever been.” This assertion is patently false. First of all, “reduced costs” and “quality and affordable healthcare for any American” would seem to be mutually exclusive. Further, the proposed bill does not “protect Americans’ choice of insurance plans”. The Lewin Group, an independent health care management and consulting firm, in a recent report estimated that of the 158.1 million Americans with employer-based coverage, as many as 88.1 million people would be shifted out of their current insurance and end up in the public plan. http://www.lewin.com/content/publications/Testimony)

Finally, it defies reason that the Commerce Secretary suggests that the proposed health care bill would positively address the impact of health care costs on the economy and not acknowledge the tremendous risk to the economy and job market as a result of Federal deficit spending on health care and unfunded Federal healthcare liability. The Congressional Budget Office estimates (and very likely grossly underestimates) the proposed legislation would increase the deficit by $239 billion over the next decade. And the 2009 Medicare Trustees Report assesses the current unfunded liability of Medicare to have reached $89 trillion. (http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba662)
Yes, we need health care reform but successful reform requires thoughtful and rational policy formulation, utilizing traditional American economic free market values; not hastily crafted, misconceived and intrusive government policies.

There is no problem so bad that it can’t be made worse by doing the wrong thing.

We must all fight to prevent the wrong kind of healthcare reform and the dangerous expansion of government control and debt. Every individual can make a difference. Write your congressman and senators (contact info found at http://www.conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.htm); and join and contribute your time, energy, and money as you are able to grass root organizations such as the American’s for Prosperity http://americansforprosperity.org/national-site, American Liberty Alliance http://americanlibertyalliance.com/, and/or other free market based grass roots organizations.