Modern Physician Apr 1, 2003 Editorial An irresistible force By Joseph Conn

…on March 10, an officer (Stuart Butler, vice president of domestic and economic policy studies) of the conservative and politically influential Heritage Foundation testified before a Senate committee that a “social contract” exists in the United States to “ensure all residents have affordable access to at least basic health care . . . ”

So now, even the Heritage Foundation accepts the idea of universal coverage.

Butler concedes it would take a public/private partnership to cover everyone, but his plan, presented to the Senate subcommittee on aging, calls for phasing out what he calls the “regressive” tax breaks given on employer contributions to healthcare benefit plans. The excluded federal and state income and payroll taxes–estimated at $125 billion in 1988–would be better spent, he argues, providing “more progressive” tax credits or subsidies to individuals for obtaining health insurance themselves.

Butler did not urge employers to stop paying for their employees’ healthcare coverage, but that is inevitably what would happen without the tax breaks.

http://www.modernphysician.com/article.cms?articleId=1817

Comment: As we approach the inevitability of major reform of our highly flawed system of funding care, it is instructive to note policy issues on which groups as diverse as Physicians for a National Health Program and the conservative Heritage Foundation can agree.

Heritage believes in a “social contract” and PNHP believes in a “human right” to affordable, universal access to health care, though Heritage would limit that to “basic” care and PNHP would include all “beneficial” care.

Heritage recognizes a fundamental flaw in the regressive tax benefits of employer-funded health plans. The regressive nature is due to the fact that health plans provided by the employer are actually part of the employee compensation package. Since they are deductible to the employer, but not taxable to the employee, higher-income individuals receive a much greater tax benefit than do lower-income individuals. This is tax policy that benefits the wealthy but not the poor.

Remarkably, both Heritage and PNHP believe that our health care system should be funded through tax policies that are more progressive. This is a dramatic meeting of diverse minds. Both PNHP and Heritage believe that we should use the tax system in health care funding, and that the taxes should be more equitable.

Unfortunately, we are still in different worlds on the next step. Heritage would turn the hapless recipient of a tax credit loose in the overpriced and inadequate private individual insurance market where the masters of “market medicine” will relieve the patient of their funds without the necessity of providing adequate, affordable access to beneficial services. PNHP stands firm on the principle that only a publicly administered, single payer system of social insurance can ensure that everyone would have truly affordable access to all important beneficial services.

There is one important caveat. Although we agree that employment-linked insurance should be eliminated, we cannot do that until we have established a program of social insurance. In spite of the injustices of our current system, it is crucial that we maintain the employer’s role in providing coverage. Without it, tens of millions more would join the ranks of the uninsured.

We need to proceed, as expeditiously as possible, with our efforts to establish a single payer system. But, until we are there, let’s not dismantle the employer base of coverage.

Response of Kip Sullivan to Robert Blendon’s polls:

From Don’s comment:

Dr. Blendon could improve his credibility by conducting polls that ask about views on universality, comprehensiveness and affordability of social insurance. Rather than asking exclusively about government and taxes, the poll should begin with a statement such as “Medicare and Social Security are programs of social insurance that are designed to include everyone and to be funded equitably.”

Kip Sullivan’s response:

Don,

I have what I think is an even more important suggestion for Dr. Blendon. He should stop asking respondents whether they would pay $50 or $200 or $500 more “to insure the uninsured,” and instead start asking, “If a universal insurance program would reduce your premium and out-of-pocket costs by $500, and increase your taxes by $500, would you support such a program?” Blendon’s question and my proposed question make different assumptions about costs. Blendon’s question assumes there is no way costs can be lowered while coverage is expanded; my question does not.

The other problem with Blendon’s question is that it assumes financing of universal coverage must be regressive. (A per head tax of $50 or $200 is regressive; it takes a rising portion of income as income declines.) My suggested question also suffers from that defect. Blendon should explore how support for universal coverage is affected by progressivity of financing by asking some follow-up questions, such as, “If a universal insurance program would reduce your premium and out-of-pocket costs by $500, and increase your taxes by $200, would you support such a program?”

Blendon keeps asking Americans his loaded question, and, not surprisingly, their responses show they are reluctant to pour even more money into our dreadfully expensive system. From this Blendon concludes, “Americans say they want universal coverage but they don’t want to pay for it.” If Blendon wants to continue posing his loaded question, fine, but the least he can do is draw the appropriately narrow conclusion, which is, “Americans want universal coverage, but they don’t want to buy it at the current price at which coverage sells these days, and they don’t want to pay for it with a regressive tax.”

Kip

The San Francisco Chronicle is conducting a poll on health care reform. Two of the choices include single payer and “play or pay” employer mandate. Although the poll is not scientifically valid, a large response could demonstrate the level of passion that we have for reform.

To cast your vote: http://www.sfgate.com/ (The question is half way down the right column.)

The New York Times
April 30, 2003
Health Care Limps Up Political Ladder
By Robin Toner

The health care crisis is returning to American politics – gradually, but inexorably, with a force that will most likely grow as rising costs and deepening cuts squeeze more and more voters.

Pollsters say the issue ranks high with Democratic primary voters, which means that every presidential candidate must address it.

Meanwhile, rising health costs, coupled with declining revenues, are forcing states to consider major cutbacks in Medicaid – the program that already covers millions of people who would otherwise be uninsured. State officials have not, so far, received the help they are pleading for from Washington.

There is an incongruity here, as Bob Blendon, a Harvard University expert on public opinion and health, put it: Candidates are proposing bold visions to expand coverage in the future, “and we don’t have enough money to pay for the present.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/01/politics/01TALK.html

Comment: Dr. Blendon’s comment is unfortunate. His polls (with KFF, NPR, WP and others) have been used to inform our political leaders that Americans do not want a government-run, taxpayer-funded system. His insistence on continuing with the pejorative phrasing of his question on social insurance has contributed to the belief that reform must be incremental and not comprehensive.

Now Dr. Blendon has adopted the rhetoric of those who are opposed to reform in stating that “we don’t have enough money to pay for the present.” Numerous studies have demonstrated that we are already spending more than enough to fund comprehensive health care for everyone, but we need to reform the system to make that a reality. 98% of Americans believe that the issue of affordability of health care must be addressed.

Dr. Blendon could improve his credibility by conducting polls that ask about views on universality, comprehensiveness and affordability of social insurance. Rather than asking exclusively about government and taxes, the poll should begin with a statement such as “Medicare and Social Security are programs of social insurance that are designed to include everyone and to be funded equitably.” Then asking questions about support for adopting social insurance for health care for everyone should provide more objective responses.

It is helpful to understand the impact of the prevailing political rhetoric, but it would be even more helpful if we understood precisely what Americans really do want in the way of affordable access to health care.

Response of Kip Sullivan to Robert Blendon’s polls:

From Don’s comment:

Dr. Blendon could improve his credibility by conducting polls that ask about views on universality, comprehensiveness and affordability of social insurance. Rather than asking exclusively about government and taxes, the poll should begin with a statement such as “Medicare and Social Security are programs of social insurance that are designed to include everyone and to be funded equitably.”

Kip Sullivan’s response:

Don,

I have what I think is an even more important suggestion for Dr. Blendon. He should stop asking respondents whether they would pay $50 or $200 or $500 more “to insure the uninsured,” and instead start asking, “If a universal insurance program would reduce your premium and out-of-pocket costs by $500, and increase your taxes by $500, would you support such a program?” Blendon’s question and my proposed question make different assumptions about costs. Blendon’s question assumes there is no way costs can be lowered while coverage is expanded; my question does not.

The other problem with Blendon’s question is that it assumes financing of universal coverage must be regressive. (A per head tax of $50 or $200 is regressive; it takes a rising portion of income as income declines.) My suggested question also suffers from that defect. Blendon should explore how support for universal coverage is affected by progressivity of financing by asking some follow-up questions, such as, “If a universal insurance program would reduce your premium and out-of-pocket costs by $500, and increase your taxes by $200, would you support such a program?”

Blendon keeps asking Americans his loaded question, and, not surprisingly, their responses show they are reluctant to pour even more money into our dreadfully expensive system. From this Blendon concludes, “Americans say they want universal coverage but they don’t want to pay for it.” If Blendon wants to continue posing his loaded question, fine, but the least he can do is draw the appropriately narrow conclusion, which is, “Americans want universal coverage, but they don’t want to buy it at the current price at which coverage sells these days, and they don’t want to pay for it with a regressive tax.”

Kip

The New York Times
April 30, 2003
Health Care Limps Up Political Ladder
By Robin Toner

The health care crisis is returning to American politics – gradually, but inexorably, with a force that will most likely grow as rising costs and deepening cuts squeeze more and more voters.

Pollsters say the issue ranks high with Democratic primary voters, which means that every presidential candidate must address it.

Meanwhile, rising health costs, coupled with declining revenues, are forcing states to consider major cutbacks in Medicaid – the program that already covers millions of people who would otherwise be uninsured. State officials have not, so far, received the help they are pleading for from Washington.

There is an incongruity here, as Bob Blendon, a Harvard University expert on public opinion and health, put it: Candidates are proposing bold visions to expand coverage in the future, “and we don’t have enough money to pay for the present.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/01/politics/01TALK.html

Comment: Dr. Blendon’s comment is unfortunate. His polls (with KFF, NPR, WP and others) have been used to inform our political leaders that Americans do not want a government-run, taxpayer-funded system. His insistence on continuing with the pejorative phrasing of his question on social insurance has contributed to the belief that reform must be incremental and not comprehensive.

Now Dr. Blendon has adopted the rhetoric of those who are opposed to reform in stating that “we don’t have enough money to pay for the present.” Numerous studies have demonstrated that we are already spending more than enough to fund comprehensive health care for everyone, but we need to reform the system to make that a reality. 98% of Americans believe that the issue of affordability of health care must be addressed.

Dr. Blendon could improve his credibility by conducting polls that ask about views on universality, comprehensiveness and affordability of social insurance. Rather than asking exclusively about government and taxes, the poll should begin with a statement such as “Medicare and Social Security are programs of social insurance that are designed to include everyone and to be funded equitably.” Then asking questions about support for adopting social insurance for health care for everyone should provide more objective responses.

It is helpful to understand the impact of the prevailing political rhetoric, but it would be even more helpful if we understood precisely what Americans really do want in the way of affordable access to health care.

Physicians for a National Health Program
April 28, 2003
Private Health Plans Versus Social Insurance: Implications for Health Care
Reform
by Don McCanne

Private health plans are responsible for much of the administrative waste that uniquely characterizes the health care system of the United States. And for this outrageous cost and inefficiency, these plans are providing highly flawed and inequitable methods of pooling funds and allocating health care resources. We are receiving remarkably little value from this very costly industry.

Yet the leading incremental proposals for health care reform call for an expansion of the role of private plans as a method of expanding health care coverage to more individuals. Because of the unacceptable inadequacies and high costs of our current system we will have major reform soon. But before we invest more resources into the health plan industry, we should review the policy implications to decide whether this would be a worthwhile investment.

An evaluation of funding through private health plans would not be complete without comparing this model with a model of public funding through social insurance.

Publicly funded systems of social insurance have a mission to allocate the health care resources as equitably and as efficiently as possible.

For the full article:
https://pnhp.org/publications/private_health_plans_versus_social_insurance.php

Special Request: Since this article is several pages long, you may not have time to read it now. If so, please save the link or download it now to be read later. You can use the printer icon on the PNHP page for a printer-friendly format.

Many of the leading proposals for reforming health care would use individual or employer mandates along with tax policy to expand enrollment in private health plans. Many supporters of such incremental reforms understand the benefits of the single payer model, but they believe that it lacks political feasibility. They correctly believe that achievable modest steps are better than no reform at all. But they have to live with the fact that modest reforms have only slowed the rate of deterioration in our system, as the net result of incremental improvements has been a negative. Costs are up, more people are uninsured, under-insurance is epidemic, and portions of our health care infrastructure are threatened with insolvency. And since the newer models of health care coverage leave patients exposed to greater risk, coverage alone is no longer an adequate goal for reform. Our goal must be universal coverage that ensures both financial and health security.

It is no longer acceptable to debate merely whether or not single payer reform is feasible. The debate now must center on whether it is ethical to support reform that increases costs as it perpetuates inequities, or should the ethics of the health policy professions mandate support for an affordable, equitable, universal system of health care coverage? The onus of proving that it is ethical to support inequities and waste because of political feasibility must now be placed on those with lesser goals for reform.

Please use this article to help change the terms of the debate. Share it not only with our colleagues for their use in the debate, but also share it with those who would accept a lesser ethical standard for reform. Let’s end the debate over political feasibility, and begin the debate over the ethics of supporting reform that perpetuates and expands waste and inequities.

For health care justice for all,

Don McCanne, MD
President, Physicians for a National Health Program
www.pnhp.org
don@mccanne.org
Home telephone: 949-493-3714

San Francisco Chronicle
April 27, 2003
The long road to a national health plan
By Kevin Grumbach and Philip R. Lee **

Most experts concede that the simplest way to guarantee coverage for all Americans is to make every resident automatically eligible for coverage under a single public plan, avoiding the chaos and transience of eligibility linked to specific employers or degrading and cumbersome “means testing” of family income. Single-payer systems also have appealing economic virtues, operating with far lower administrative overhead costs than private insurance and exercising greater care to rein in health care inflation.

California recently contracted with the Lewin Group, a private independent consulting firm, to analyze 10 alternative proposals to increase coverage. The firm concluded that pay-or-play models, which require employers to finance coverage, would increase state health care costs by $2 billion, while a single- payer plan could reduce overall costs by $7 billion — and provide comprehensive coverage to all Californians.

The single-payer plan would also trim $18 billion in unnecessary administrative costs and excessive prices for prescription drugs and medical supplies — more than enough to afford universal coverage.

But policy logic has never been sufficient to ensure political victory for single-payer proposals. Big Government and Big Taxes are not attractive brand labels in the current emporium of electable ideas.

The need for a universal health care program and health security for all Americans is rightfully returning to the forefront of policy debate.

A recent issue of the American Journal of Public Health proposed several benchmarks for judging reform proposals: universal and equitable coverage, comprehensive benefits and quality health care, affordable and equitable financing, simplified administration and sensibly organized work, accountability and a strong public health system.

The hard work ahead is to create the political change that can implement a universal health care plan that would achieve these goals.

**Dr. Kevin Grumbach is a professor of family and community medicine at UCSF and a founding member of the California Physicians Alliance. He practices family medicine at San Francisco General Hospital. Dr. Philip R. Lee, who served as assistant secretary of health in the Johnson and Clinton administrations, is the former chancellor of UCSF and was founding director of UCSF’s Institute for Health Policy Studies, where he is a senior scholar.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/04/27 /IN105921.DTL

Comment: There is no more credible source on health policy than Dr. Grumbach and Dr. Lee. It is time for us to end the political stalemate that has allowed the perpetuation of profound health care injustices. Let’s now turn to leaders like Dr. Grumbach and Dr. Lee and get on with the very serious business of truly reforming our health care system.