Times Union (Albany, NY)
Letter to the Editor
Saturday, September 19, 2009
I am a family physician and geriatrician with 37 years of experience who attended the recent health care town hall meeting in Bethlehem. I was very impressed with Congressman Paul Tonko’s ability to field many questions in a sometimes contentious arena.
I heard two main themes, yearning and fear: People who had inadequate health care and yearned for a better system, and other people who feared that there would be a government takeover and loss of our freedom.
The most critical aspect is that physicians and patients must work together.
The rub is: Who pays for it? Very few individuals can pay for health care so a third party is involved, the government or the insurance industry.
I have much more trouble with the insurance industry. I have seen many cases where the insurance company will not cover a procedure.
We want a system that is more efficient and cost-effective, and continues to value the doctor-patient relationship. I believe we do not need insurance companies and that some type of single-payer system would be much better. Decisions within this system would have to safeguard the freedom to choose care and the assurance that policy would be made by an autonomous organization within government.
An improved Medicare system would address both the yearning and the fear.
Appleton Mason, M.D.
Physicians for a National Health Program
Glenmont, NY