By Robert S. Kiefner, M.D.
Concord (N.H.) Monitor, April 4, 2017
In a colossal setback for those who are indifferent to the health and well-being of their fellow Americans, the Republicans failed to repeal and replace Obamacare.
Ironically, it was the Freedom Caucus, a fraternity of cranky old white guys (and cranky younger white guys in training) who torpedoed the bill. By targeting the positive aspects of the ACA for repeal, they unwittingly enlightened and energized people with respect to the real value of the benefits.
There is now a unique opportunity to transcend the ACA, to dramatically decrease administrative overhead, drug costs, co-pays and deductibles while providing truly universal care.
HR 676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, now awaits its day in Congress. Seventy-six co-sponsors have signed onto universal healthcare, publicly financed, but privately delivered with much lower costs. Whatās not to like? HR 676 should be the bill that brings together the progressives who have long supported healthcare for every citizen, and the fiscal conservatives who want to decrease overall healthcare spending. The dissenters are mainly for-profit insurance companies and Big Pharma, for whom the bill provides long deserved corporate wedgies.
Encourage Reps. Annie Kuster and Carol Shae-Porter to sign on as cosponsors of HR 676. The time has come to really fix health care.
Dr. Robert S. Kiefner resides in Concord.
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