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Today is Thursday, June 22, 2017. The Senate's proposed health care bill was announced a few hours ago.
Health care, (USNEWS, December 2, 2016) in all its aspects, makes up some 17.8% of US GDP.
The bill was drafted by a small group of Republican Senators in very private and secret meetings. No Democratic Senators participated in drafting the bill. Many Republican Senators saw it for the first time today. There has been no public discussions of the bill, nor are any planned. News and public policy organizations have begun the process of reading the bill and interpreting its effects. The Senate will vote on the bill next week, prior to leaving Washington for the July 4th holiday.
The implications are dire. This bill will greatly reduce government support for medical care, particularly to poor and elderly people. It will raise health care costs for all people. Even before the changes this bill will make, most Americans die broke or in debt, often due to costs of health care. This condition will become worse.
I have several concerns about this bill and health care in general in the US. Among them:
1. Per capita health costs in the US is at or near the highest in the world, with health quality the lowest of "developed" countries. In quality per cost, the US ranks near the absolute bottom. The US could adopt the health care policies of any of several countries and both raise care and lower cost.
2. The Trump-care bills suggest that costs will be lower due to increased competition among insurers resulting in higher quality plans at lower premiums. To date, no insurer has explained what coverage will be available, at what premium, and with what restrictions. The proponents of the bill are making promises, expecting some other organization will keep them.
3. Suggesting that every person will have "access" to health care insurance is inadequate at best. Far too many people are already living at poverty levels and receiving Medicaid or the equivalent. Medicaid currently supports health care for about 20% of all Americans. As that program is cut, as the new bill proposes, those people have no funds to buy any insurance at any price.
The leadership of the US is the poorest in my lifetime. Both elected officials, including Trump, Pence, Ryan, and McConnell, and appointed cabinet-level officials including Sessions, Zinke, Ross, Price, Carson, Chao, Perry, DeVos, Haley, and Pruitt. There are many very rich money-behind-the-scenes supporters of the current administration who have the view that it is not possible to have "too much" personal wealth and influence, including Koch, Walton, Scaife, DeVos, Friess, Adelson, Langone, Mercer, Thiel, and many others.
Without regard to political preference, it is evident that the US has a leadership crisis. What could help? Here are a few of many suggestions.
1. Stop gerrymandering -- defining strangely shaped Congressional districts.
2. Remove the Electoral College and enable popular election of the president.
3. Limit both the time and money spent on campaigns.
4. Require adequate opportunity for Congressional debate and public hearings on legislative proposals.
5. Limit the influence of lobbyists.
6. Require full disclosure for all public officials -- education, health, finances, taxes, military, etc.
7. Require that cabinet members be experts in the departments they lead.
8. Reduce focus and spending on military.
9. Increase focus and spending on health care.
10. And many more.
Thanks for listening,
Best, Howard
Health care, (USNEWS, December 2, 2016) in all its aspects, makes up some 17.8% of US GDP.
The bill was drafted by a small group of Republican Senators in very private and secret meetings. No Democratic Senators participated in drafting the bill. Many Republican Senators saw it for the first time today. There has been no public discussions of the bill, nor are any planned. News and public policy organizations have begun the process of reading the bill and interpreting its effects. The Senate will vote on the bill next week, prior to leaving Washington for the July 4th holiday.
The implications are dire. This bill will greatly reduce government support for medical care, particularly to poor and elderly people. It will raise health care costs for all people. Even before the changes this bill will make, most Americans die broke or in debt, often due to costs of health care. This condition will become worse.
I have several concerns about this bill and health care in general in the US. Among them:
1. Per capita health costs in the US is at or near the highest in the world, with health quality the lowest of "developed" countries. In quality per cost, the US ranks near the absolute bottom. The US could adopt the health care policies of any of several countries and both raise care and lower cost.
2. The Trump-care bills suggest that costs will be lower due to increased competition among insurers resulting in higher quality plans at lower premiums. To date, no insurer has explained what coverage will be available, at what premium, and with what restrictions. The proponents of the bill are making promises, expecting some other organization will keep them.
3. Suggesting that every person will have "access" to health care insurance is inadequate at best. Far too many people are already living at poverty levels and receiving Medicaid or the equivalent. Medicaid currently supports health care for about 20% of all Americans. As that program is cut, as the new bill proposes, those people have no funds to buy any insurance at any price.
The leadership of the US is the poorest in my lifetime. Both elected officials, including Trump, Pence, Ryan, and McConnell, and appointed cabinet-level officials including Sessions, Zinke, Ross, Price, Carson, Chao, Perry, DeVos, Haley, and Pruitt. There are many very rich money-behind-the-scenes supporters of the current administration who have the view that it is not possible to have "too much" personal wealth and influence, including Koch, Walton, Scaife, DeVos, Friess, Adelson, Langone, Mercer, Thiel, and many others.
Without regard to political preference, it is evident that the US has a leadership crisis. What could help? Here are a few of many suggestions.
1. Stop gerrymandering -- defining strangely shaped Congressional districts.
2. Remove the Electoral College and enable popular election of the president.
3. Limit both the time and money spent on campaigns.
4. Require adequate opportunity for Congressional debate and public hearings on legislative proposals.
5. Limit the influence of lobbyists.
6. Require full disclosure for all public officials -- education, health, finances, taxes, military, etc.
7. Require that cabinet members be experts in the departments they lead.
8. Reduce focus and spending on military.
9. Increase focus and spending on health care.
10. And many more.
Thanks for listening,
Best, Howard