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Rush to Reform Care System Could be Unhealthy |  | | By J. Allen Meadows, MD |
This letter to the editor was published March 31 2009 in the Montgomery Advertiser
I just returned from my annual allergy meeting in Washington and visited the offices of four members of our delegation. I was shocked to learn that Congress is rushing to radically change our heath care system, perhaps voting as soon as May. There is an attitude in Congress to rush and enact these laws without judgment or review, and fix obvious problems later. The cornerstone of the most popular proposal is called "The Patient Center Medical Home". While all of us support everyone having a primary care doctor, this proposal recycles the failed "gatekeeper" concept of the 1970's, limiting patient's access to specialist by giving economic incentives to restrict referrals. Part of these proposals is the creation of additional government subsidized insurance programs. These subsidized plans could eventually make employer sponsored private insurance plans unaffordable, leading to a system totally run by the government (commonly referred to as "socialized medicine"). None of these plans have been tested, there is no evidence to suggest they might actually work, and congress may not have time to even read these proposals, as was the case when the economic stimulus plan was passed. Congress must slow down and test these proposals, and at a minimum read them. While certainly changes are needed to improve quality, control costs, and take care of the uninsured, we are running the risk of destroying a system that delivers the best health care in the world.
If you are concerned, call and/or email your congressman today!
senator@shelby.senate.gov
http://sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ConstituentServices.ContactMe
https://forms.house.gov/bright/contact-form.shtml
http://www.house.gov/mike-rogers/contact.shtml
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