Bob LeBow on the Physicians' Proposal
Robert LeBow, M.D., former president of Physicians for a National Health Program and author of "Health Care Meltdown," speaking at a press conference at City Hall in Philadelphia, on release of the JAMA article on the physicians' proposal for single-payer national health insurance:
I frequently hear people tell me that America has the best health care system in the world. And in some cases, that is true. In July, 2002, I sustained a catastrophic injury while riding my bike to work. I am alive today, thanks, in art, to the high level of medical technology that was available for me.But, the U.S. also is the only developed country where getting sick or injured can, and all too frequently does, lead to bankruptcy. In fact, medical bills are the leading cause of bankruptcy. And, many bankruptcies happen to people with health insurance.
Our employer-based health insurance system is outmoded, illogical and needsto be replaced. Perverse incentives make our health care system a poor value for the amount we spend. Health care needs to return to an emphasis on health, not cost or profit.
Over 40 million Americans have no health insurance whatsoever and most of
the rest of us are underinsured. We are underinsured in the sense that even with insurance, there is a lot of cost shifting to the patient. And,for people with chronic illnesses and disabilities, the expense of long termcare, outpatient rehabilitation and prescription drug costs are largely left to private savings.
The "market" had been a failure for health care in America. Health care is not a commodity like fast food or automobiles. For health care, the public sector, in fact, has a much lower overhead than the private sector.
Thousands of doctors have signed on in support of the Physicians' Proposal for a National Health Insurance program because it will provide comprehensive and affordable access to health care for every person in America, and remedy the loss of dignity that we have inflicted on ourselves as individuals and as a nation. It is time to put the patient first - not last - in the setting of priorities.
Bob LeBow, August 12, 2003
Health Care Meltdown:
http://www.pnhp.org/publications/health_care_meltdown.php
The Physicians' Proposal:
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/290/6/798
or
http://www.physiciansproposal.org/