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Congress, President push health care reform plan
Cameron Birch
Issue date: 7/3/09 Section: News
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Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), finance committee chairman, is currently drafting a proposal to cost a rumored $1.6 trillion dollars, according to the Boston Globe.
Additionally, Medical News Today reports that the American Medical Student Association is seeking a plan from the president that addresses debt from medical education, provides accessible, affordable healthcare and guarantees access to affordable medications. AMSA alleges the current system allows for pharmaceutical companies that leave many without care and the United States as having one of the lowest health outcomes in the world.
An article in the Economist currently urges for a plan that satiates the American desire for an "all you can eat" healthcare plan that allows for patient visitation to virtually any doctor and the ability to receive any test. This would be facilitated by a proposal to reward doctors who were both successful.
"Healthcare in this country needs to be fixed," Mike Hess, chairman of the College Republicans, said. Hess called for reform of the current healthcare system under a program that would protect doctors and reduce fees that originated from malpractice suits.
"We're working together and we're getting closer and closer to a deal every day… I'm as confident as ever we'll deliver a bipartisan health care reform bill to the president this year," Baucus stated.
"It's been a long time coming," Giancarlo Stefanoni, president of the Drexel Dems, said. Democrats are pushing for a bill to reach the congressional floor, as the July 4 congressional recess approaches. Citing a democratic president and congressional majority, Stefanoni said healthcare reform was something that should be worked on now.
Additionally, the student Democrat did not see a downturn for private insurance companies. He cited a "set system" and too much of a market for it to completely "run out."
Hess, however, criticized the government's lack of ability to look at each hospital's situation. He argued that a large-scale program would bankrupt some hospitals, eventually leading to less overall access to medical care.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is the mediator between Democrats and moderates on the Senate Finance committee for the drafting of a bipartisan healthcare reform bill.
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Mary
posted 7/03/09 @ 7:41 PM EST
Health care needs to be done so many people are without or have insurance with co-pays that still makes it difficult to go to a dr. or buy medcine as things are so high. (Continued…)
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