Imagine This!

In the 1930s an exotic dancer by the name of Sally Rand used bubbles to capture the imagination of her audiences as to what was underneath the bubbles. The White House continues to have events to capture the imagination of the viewers as to what the health care issue is all about. The problem is the bubbles are beginning to burst and the public is now becoming aware of what is underneath.

Last week, I raised the issue of whether or not the undocumented aliens are a part of the 48 million without health insurance. Low and behold the information is slowly leaking out that the undocumented are a part of the 48 million. The healthy families group are also a part of this, though Administrations from George H W Bush, Bill Clinton, and W Bush have all begged people to sign up. They haven't. That is why we must identify who comprises the underserved.

Since my last blog I have started wading through the version of HR 3200 which is pending before the Waxman Committee of the House. It is like a Russian novel. I can categorically guarantee that no one including the President of the United States has ever read the complete document. The American people will be appalled by what they find in the bill. I called the committee staff for clarification on some points. They told me that on July 30th so many amendments were thrown at the bill that they will not have a real version for release until mid September.They told me that everyone was brain dead and wanted to go on vacation to really address the detail.

No where in the bill is there any provision for the health professionals who will be needed to serve the 46,000,000 underserved. If we use the normal doctor to patient ratios, 470,000 plus new doctors will be needed to say nothing of the nurses needed to support the system.

No where in the legislation is there any reference to tort reform. The frivolous law suits encouraged by the trial lawyers continue to raise the cost of health care. It is highly unlikely that an Administration so beholden to trial lawyers will move toward reform.

There is no emergency. The costs are skyrocketing, but to address these costs in a reasonable fashion means that we have time to start over again. The past week has seen the White Houses ratcheting up outrageous condemnation of the insurance industry. This group, plus all of the stakeholders need to be brought to the table to craft real reform, not political agendas. Either Congress or the President should step into the role of convening these groups .I think the American people are far too savy to buy into the HR3200 document now before the Congress.