Medicare for all is best way to reform health care

By Elizabeth R. Rosenthal, M.D.
The Journal News (Lower Hudson Valley, N.Y.), July 1, 2012

There is a better path to health-care reform.

Although the Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act, the law will not remedy the U.S. health crisis.

As a physician for 45 years, 36 of them in private practice in Mamaroneck, I have seen, close up, how our “nonsystem” of health care is failing us as patients and physicians. Because access to care is largely decided by ability to pay, many are suffering and dying for lack of it.

The massive paperwork demands by the private for-profit health insurance companies force physicians to spend less time with their patients. Since our system is fragmented and chaotic, it is difficult for either group to navigate.

Because our system is dominated by this private, for-profit health insurance industry, millions are uninsured or underinsured: one serious illness away from financial ruin. Billions of dollars is wasted through inflated administrative costs, profits to shareholders and huge CEO compensation. These dollars could all be going toward providing health care if we eliminated this unnecessary middleman.

We do not have to look far for a way to do this. Our 46-year-old Medicare program can be expanded and improved to provide care for all at the cost we are now paying. Such a single-payer system also makes business sense.

A publicly financed single-payer system would eliminate business’ burden of providing health insurance benefits to employees, a potential labor cost savings of 10 percent to 12 percent, as well as elimination of benefits management costs and related labor negotiation costs. It could cut workers’ compensation insurance expenses by up to 50 percent. It would help U.S. businesses compete with foreign businesses that already have the advantage of producing goods in nations with publicly financed health-care systems.

There is legislation before Congress, notably HR 676, the “Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act,” which would do precisely that.

Polls show such an approach is supported by about two-thirds of the public and a solid majority of physicians.

If Congress won’t do this, New York can lead the way with its own single payer bill (A07860/S5425), recently introduced by Assemblyman Richard Gottfried and Sen. Tom Duane.

Then New York could show the nation how to end the shame and disgrace of allowing so many of the 99 percent to suffer and die for lack of health care that, soon, will be affordable only for the 1 percent.

The writer lives in Larchmont.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20120702/OPINION/307020027/?nclick_check=1