New York Times
Letters
Published: March 14, 2009
To the Editor:
Re “A Start on Health Care Reform” (editorial, March 8):
Yes, the administration has “ducked some of the most contentious issues.” President Obama has said he wants “ideas that work.” But any plan that retains the private, multipayer insurance system that is the source of our out-of-control costs cannot possibly work. And a plan in which people keep the insurance they have will not help the growing number of Americans who find they are underinsured.
The Congressional Budget Office has shown that a mandate to purchase insurance will not lead to universal coverage. It has shown, as well, that neither information technology nor chronic disease management nor comparative effectiveness analysis — all of which the administrationis counting on — will significantly curb costs. Only a unified public plan, based on our successful experience with Medicare, can truly address the problems of the health care system.
Leonard Rodberg
Flushing, Queens, March 8, 2009
The writer is research director of the New York metro chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program and a professor of urban studies at Queens College, CUNY.