Daily Kos Diary by a Doctor: What the Health Care Bill Means to Me

[Pirate Smile]

What the Health Care Bill Means to Me
by James Ty

Fri Dec 25, 2009 at 10:32:33 AM PST

What happened yesterday morning is historic. I am thinking to my days in medical school (1983-87) when several of us started a "health policy discussion group." Our primary concern - universal coverage. Health care had just crossed 10% of GDP and we talked about the catastrophe that would befall our nation if we ever got to 15%. We also thought that reform was just around the corner....because it HAD to be!

James Ty's diary :: ::
In the ensuing 25 years I have watched the number of uninsured swell from around 30 million to nearly 50 million, and health care expenditures approach 18% of GDP. I have also watched every attempt at reasonable reform fail, even when we've had a Democratic president and congress. To think that we are on the verge of enacting a bill that will insure 30 million Americans, protect others from the worst abuses of the industry and create mechanisms to (hopefully) bend the cost curve is simply extraordinary when seen through that lens. And, it leaves us in an entirely different starting point for future legislation.

Is it imperfect? Absolutely. Would I have liked to see a robust public option and better subsidies? For sure. But . . . oh my God . . . is this a huge step forward! For a moment, let's put our cynicism and various disappointments aside and just celebrate what we've helped make happen!

It was entirely possible (and certainly within range of a smart gambler's wager) that health care reform would fail again this time. The President and his team, as well as congressional leaders, made a series of calculated decisions - some right . . . . some probably wrong, that helped get us here. While I will continue to fight to improve this bill in conference, and will support future efforts at enhancement, I, for one, am most appreciative and savoring this victory.

Happy Holidays!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/25/819132/-What-the-Health-Care-Bill-Means-to-Me

[mzmolly]

1. K and R!

:kick:

[Bicoastal]

2. SELLOUT! QUISLING! WHAT DOES HE KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE?!

(Any second now...)

[dkf]

3. Why is anything being celebrated yet?

It could fall apart in a heart beat.

[ProSense]

4. "It could fall apart in a heart beat."

You wish.

[dkf]

5. Ben Nelson said if it is changed in conference he is walking.

Any improvements to the house version have a great likelihood of running into Lieberman and Nelson and a no vote.

So if you think the odds of the house asking for any improvements are zero, then this bill has a good chance of passing. Other than that, it could be iffy.

[ProSense]

6. Like I said

you wish.

[dkf]

9. I'm beginning to not care and to honestly consider

taking all your money by buying health insurance stocks.

[Cha]

30. You do that..I can see that in you.

[crikkett]

29. A NO from Lieberman and Nelson STILL LEAVES 58 VOTES = +8 = PASSAGE

And the last time I checked, you only need 51 votes to approve the bill once it's out of conference.

[MH1]

28. I don't wish, but on that point I think the poster is correct.

Let's see what happens with the vote on the conference report. Still needs 60 if I am not mistaken. If there is one iota of change to the Senate bill then how will we know we can still get 60?

[depakid]

7. "create mechanisms to (hopefully) bend the cost curve"

:rofl:

Yep- the health insurance industry will, out of the goodness of their hearts, will keep premiums, deductibles and copays down and improve coverage now that Americans are required to purchase their sparsely regulated products!

[ProSense]

8. "out of the goodness of their hearts" Wrong

out of the fear of fines and other penalties.

[depakid]

11. LOL

If one thought you sincere in these matters, it would be tempting to use words like "naive," "lacking real world experience" or "starry eyed."

Perhaps even dishonest under the circumstances- particularly when one considers this administration's track record of holding people and corporations accountable for their "transgressions."

How's that Peanut Corporation case going at the DOJ, btw?

[ProSense]

13. Nope, you're wrong.

You made a speculative statement based on a hypotheical scenario, one not supported by anything but the desire to say the bill is bad.

[depakid]

16. Pulleese

pull yourself up from the rabbit hole and into reality....

Your new allies in health Insurance industry are just LAUGHING at you (and others who they've conned into doing their bidding).

Then again- you could be right with your speculation- maybe Obama is right "they're not bad people" and paltry, underfunded regulatory schemes will work as well as they have with nearly every other industry in the states!

[ProSense]

21. Did you say "reality"?

"Your new allies in health Insurance industry are just LAUGHING at you"

My allies?

No, your hypothetical BS is enough to make one consider your criticism a joke.

[johnaries]

20. Obviously, she jas read the provisions of the bill

and apparently you haven't. She is correct.

[ibegurpard]

32. The regulations that can be repealed, gutted, or flat-out ignored?

where have you been the past year?

[daa]

10. He or his fellow docs will be screaming at the Medicare cuts

and will quit taking new patients. As far as "it leaves us in an entirely different starting point for future legislation" do not hold your breath. I can't begin to list all the things they are going to revisit and never do.You that donate and work ard are taken for granted and there will always be a lieberman to appease.

I remember Obama being against NAFTA before he was for it.

[ProSense]

12. "the Medicare cuts" Is this supposed to be a so-called progressive argument

Cause the last time I checked, the cuts were to the bogus Bush plan that hurt Seniors.

[truedelphi]

18. Sez you, but not so.

500 Billion bucks of cuts to the program are going to seriously hurt MediCare.

Which may well be the point.

[ProSense]

22. "500 Billion bucks of cuts to the program are going to seriously hurt MediCare."

Absolute nonsense.

[daa]

27. Oh right, its just "waste fraud and abuse"

And the advantage plans you dis are loved by seniors th ta have them, they just cost more because they cover more.

Just run with the issue. Cuts for seniors and unions. I don't see that getting any votes.

[gratefultobelib]

14. Great post! Thanks!

[Undercurrent]

15. K&R

[Laelth]

17. Evidently he already has good insurance.

Those of us who will be compelled to enrich the health insurance cabal aren't nearly as excited about it.

Kill the bill.

Forcing people to buy insurance is no more the answer to a failed health care system than forcing people to buy houses is the solution to homelessness.

:dem:

-Laelth

[ProSense]

19. What's "good insurance."? n/t

[vaberella]

23. I thought that meant anyone with lots and lots and lots of money. n/t

[Jeffersons Ghost]

24. K&R sounds great! it's very... what's that word we all forget.... uh, um...

OPTIMISTIC

[Kber]

25. I admire the sentiment and do appreciate how close we are

but we don't have a law passed yet.

Take a few minutes to smile, sure, but then we need to keep the pressure on so this thing doesn't fall apart at the last moment.

KBer

[NYC_SKP]

26. K & R nt

[ibegurpard]

31. Doesn't matter what we got...WE WON!

I am finding this sentiment to be nauseating in the extreme.

[Top Cat]

33. Kick...would have rec but it did not allow me too.