Healthcare For All
The lack of access to health care for millions of people in the United States is shameful and just plain wrong. The answer to this crisis is to provide universal coverage for all people, and to combat the insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies that have made massive profits from people's pain for decades. Below is a simple plan to get that done.
The First Step to Healthcare Reform
To begin changing the healthcare system and making care accessible and affordable for all, the first and most important step is to remove the influence of lobbyists for the insurance companies and drug companies from Washington D.C.
From 1989 to 2006, the pharmaceutical manufacturers gave more than $92 million to federal campaigns, 72% to Republicans.
80% of citizens and 71% of doctors believe that insurance companies have caused the quality of medical care within the US to be compromised.
US Healthcare Costs 2007
In 2007, healthcare costs within the United States reached $2.3 Trillion. That number is expected to rise to $3 Trillion by 2011.
Universal Coverage
Universal Health Coverage should be:
This coverage should include:
- Given to ALL citizens of the United States
- Paid for by our taxes, not just a percentage of the care, but ALL of it
- Have NO provision requiring people to pay any money up front for care
This coverage should include:
- Preventative care
- Sick care
- Mental Health care
- Dental care
- Surgical care
- Specialists
- Prescriptions - at a cost of $5.00 or less per prescription, regardless of the type of prescription or the amount of doses it contains
Barack Obama
"You know, my mother died of ovarian cancer when she was 53 years old. And I remember in the last month of her life, she wasn't thinking about how to get well, she wasn't thinking about coming to terms with her own mortality, she was thinking about whether or not insurance was going to cover the medical bills and whether or not our family would be bankrupt as a consequence. That is morally wrong. It is objectionable. That's why I put forward a comprehensive legislation for universal health care"
Elimination of Traditional Insurance
The insurance companies that have been "providing" for our care for so long, have turned a basic human right into a for-profit endeavour.
They have denied care to the sick, even when they have paid their insurance premiums diligently, to secure higher profit margins and larger bonuses for themselves.
These companies should be investigated for the harm they have caused, and prosecuted accordingly. The damages received from the court cases could help pay for the transition to a universal health care system.
They have denied care to the sick, even when they have paid their insurance premiums diligently, to secure higher profit margins and larger bonuses for themselves.
These companies should be investigated for the harm they have caused, and prosecuted accordingly. The damages received from the court cases could help pay for the transition to a universal health care system.
Benjamin Disraeli
"The health of the people is really the foundation upon which all their happiness and all their powers as a state depend."
Elimination of Malpractice Insurance
Malpractice insurance has become the single largest cost of operation for practicing physicians. It is this cost which forces doctors to charge outrageous fees for simple procedures.
This insurance should also be outlawed and replaced with a National Medical Review Board, which I will explain below, to manage cases of neglect and wrongdoing within the medical profession. If a doctor has caused harm to a patient, through neglect or other means, they should pay for the damage sustained from their own pocket. They should not be protected by an insurance policy so they can continue to practice and cause harm to more patients in the future.
This insurance should also be outlawed and replaced with a National Medical Review Board, which I will explain below, to manage cases of neglect and wrongdoing within the medical profession. If a doctor has caused harm to a patient, through neglect or other means, they should pay for the damage sustained from their own pocket. They should not be protected by an insurance policy so they can continue to practice and cause harm to more patients in the future.
Henri Frederic Amiel
"In health there is freedom. Health is the first of all liberties."
National Medical Review Board
Instead of malpractice insurance, there should be a National Medical Review Board to analyze possible cases of malpractice before they are sent into the court system.
This Board would be a panel of physicians and physician educators, of various areas of specialization.
When a doctor is accused of malpractice, the case would be sent first to this panel to review the case for any evidence of wrongdoing on the part of medical personnel.
If the panel finds evidence of wrongdoing, then the case would be sent to the appropriate court system for prosecution.
If criminal charges are filed against the doctor, and they are convicted, their license to practice medicine would be permanently revoked, and they would be barred from working within the medical field within the United States in the future.
If a civil case is filed against the doctor, the consequences would be as follows:
This Board would be a panel of physicians and physician educators, of various areas of specialization.
When a doctor is accused of malpractice, the case would be sent first to this panel to review the case for any evidence of wrongdoing on the part of medical personnel.
If the panel finds evidence of wrongdoing, then the case would be sent to the appropriate court system for prosecution.
If criminal charges are filed against the doctor, and they are convicted, their license to practice medicine would be permanently revoked, and they would be barred from working within the medical field within the United States in the future.
If a civil case is filed against the doctor, the consequences would be as follows:
- If a doctor has one case brought against him in a 10 year period, his license is placed on probationary status until he has gone a 10 year period without a case against him.
- If a doctor has two cases brought against him in a 10 year period, his license shall be temporarily suspended for a period of 5 years. Once reinstated, he will be on probationary status for a 10 year period.
- If a doctor has three cases brought against him in a 10 year period, his license shall be permanently revoked, he shall face criminal charges, and will be banned from working within the medical field in the United States for life.
The Medical Review Board would also set regulations as to how long emergency personnel, nurses, doctors, and residents are allowed to be on shift, and how much time they must have between shifts, to prevent medical mistakes in critical care situations.
Universal Healthcare
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Barack Obama On Healthcare Reform
"The key to that is not only to have a good plan, but we've also got to overcome the drug and insurance lobbies, that spent $1 billion over the last 10 years to block reform. As president, I am going to take them on."
"Health is worth more than learning. - Thomas Jefferson"
Here's my favorite link:
Health Links
- Eating to be healthy
- This site describes how to provide your body with the nutrients you need and maintain your weight while reducing the number of chemicals you put in your body.
- Stop suffering from anxiety
- A natural remedy for eliminating anxiety and panic attacks without drugs.
- Melt Stress Away
- Stress is the number one cause of health care problems in this country. Learn how to alleviate that stress naturally.
- Acne Free In 3 Days
- Learn how to eliminate acne quickly, and without expensive drugs and lotions.
- Start Sleeping Tonite!!
- A natural program for curing insomnia, without dangerous sleeping pills.
- Quit Smoking
- A natural program for quitting smoking, without pills, patches, gums, etc.
- No More Hangovers
- How to give up alcohol for good.
- Meditation secrets
- Use meditation to reduce stress and improve your health.
"Health care should be a given. - Kathryn Anastos, US Physician"
On Healthcare Reform
Sicko (Special Edition)
Following on the heels of his Palm d'Or winning Fa more...0 points
Healthcare, Guaranteed: A Simple, Secure Solution for America by Ezekiel Emanuel
America spends more than any other developed natio more...0 points
Practicing Medicine Without a License: The Corporate Takeover of Healthcare in America by Don Sloan
By controlling medical services and policies natio more...0 points
Bad Medicine: How the American Medical Establishment Is Ruining Our Healthcare System by Lawrence J. O'Brien
Reformers have tried to solve the U.S. healthcare more...0 points
Socialized Medicine? or Just The Right Thing To Do
The Argument for Universal Healthcare
Currently there are 47 million people in the US with no health insurance.
In the world, the US currently ranks
- 23rd in infant mortality
- 20th in life expectancy
- 67th in immunizations
The US spends 40% more on healthcare than any other industrialized nation without universal healthcare.
Recent studies by the Congressional Budget Office and the General Accounting Office show that universal coverage would save $100 -
Reader Comments and Feedback
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- Norman_Makous Norman_Makous Nov 25, 2009 @ 1:50 pm
- Great lens! You share a lot of very helpful information and resources here. I also have a lens on health care and would love for you to drop by and say hello when you have the chance.
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- elmikeo elmikeo Sep 28, 2009 @ 8:31 am
- Health care reform is necessary. I just don't know how to go about making that work for everyone. Remember that health insurance isn't the only type of insurance you need. Life insurance is also very important. For information on inexpensive life insurance policies click here
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- sheryaa sheryaa Jul 1, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
- http://eluhealthcare.blogspot.com/
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- Tim Tim Jun 8, 2009 @ 5:29 pm | in reply to apietrangelo
- Ann, try checking out www.pparx.org ...I do not know if this will be helpful for you and others, but, I hope so. Good Luck! [in reply to apietrangelo]
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- Lifeline Lifeline May 21, 2009 @ 12:09 am
- I agree. What do you think about our plan that we are promoting to help people.
See our intent at http://www.lifeline.ldctele.com/index-5ads.html
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by sunshine28083
I am a married mother of four boys - ages 9, 7, and 2 year old twins. I hold a bachelor's degree in Secondary English Education, several certification... (more)
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