Vision of Health Reform Worth Another Look

Posted by health4all

Posted: June 10, 2008 - 9:23 pm

Worth Another Look

Of the myriad of issues our country faces, the reformation and restoration of our "faulty" health care system is one fix that would heal many financial and physical hardships. On May 2, 2008, Al Parrish -the Chief Executive for Providence Health & Services Alaska - wrote an article for the Anchorage Daily News; "Regardless of Income, Doors to Health Care Should be Open". The article ultimately presents a visionary and humanitarian view, and if you missed it, it is worth the read.

Parrish recounts a true picture of how many people are uninsured: "Of the non elderly uninsured, eight in 10 live in a family where the head of the household is employed. One in five uninsured workers works for a company with more than 500 employees. Nearly 20 percent of the uninsured are children".

He emphasizes the critical need for legislation to establish a health care commission, which unfortunately, failed to pass during the last legislature session. This health care commission or working group would be composed of health care providers such as hospitals and physicians, insurers, employers, and most importantly, the consumers. It would strive towards health care reform that includes, but is not limited to:

• Improving health care quality and efficiency
• Establishing health care accountability - giving patients clear and concise information regarding the costs and quality associated with their health care so that they may make good health care decisions
• Expanding health care benefits. Employers offering adequate health insurance are on a decline. The commission would seek to ensure that all basic plans cover preventive services that would encourage good health management.

Without such a reform, the consequences of a flawed health care system will continue its negative domino effect in not only here in Alaska, but throughout the United States. Let's reverse this domino effect and work towards restoring a failing health care system. Take a look at Al Parrish's full article.

KJ

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