Sens. Baucus & Kennedy: We Cannot Delay Health-Care Reform

[babylonsister]

Sens. Baucus & Kennedy: We Cannot Delay Health-Care Reform

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123560875690877203.html

We Cannot Delay Health-Care Reform
Universal coverage means healthier people and a more productive economy.

By MAX BAUCUS and EDWARD M. KENNEDY


In his address to the joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, President Barack Obama declared that health-care reform "cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year." He is right.

Congress has worked hard with the president over the past weeks to begin restoring our nation's shattered economy, and to bring health care to millions of low-income, uninsured children by passing the economic recovery bill and renewing the Children's Health Insurance Program. These were urgent priorities that demanded immediate attention. Now, it is imperative that we turn our attention to comprehensive health-care reform and move quickly with President Obama to fix our broken system.

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A reformed health-care system will allow businesses to better afford to offer coverage, and empower every American to choose and purchase insurance plans that fit their budgets. Once universal coverage is reached, the positive effects will be exponential. When every American is covered, the massive costs incurred by doctors and hospitals for treating the uninsured will no longer show up in the premiums of those with health policies. Coverage can become increasingly affordable for all.

The quality of our health-care system, too, demands attention now. Today, even as costs rise, the Rand Corporation has shown that Americans receive the recommended care for their conditions only half of the time. A revitalized system should reward doctors and hospitals for providing effective, efficient care. Cutting-edge health-care technology, better coordination among a patient's various doctors, and efforts to improve care in rural and underserved areas can keep individual patients healthier and make the system work better as a whole.

Health costs also will go down as more people get the preventive care and the timely effective treatments they need.

Health is a public good worthy of major, long-term investment. Our starting point will be the down payment of more than $600 billion that the president included in the budget released today. The challenge of crafting this public policy is certainly large. But just as Congress and the president met the first challenges of restoring our nation's economy, we must also keep our commitment to reforming health care -- now.

[DesertFlower]

1. i was listening to howard dean

the other night. he said the people will reform health care. said many people will chose medicare if given the choice.

[aquart]

2. Can we get this done while Ted is here?

It would be a nice gesture.