LETTERS: HEALTH REFORM PROPOSALS DON'T ADDRESS THE REAL PROBLEMS

To the editor:

I suggest that everyone write their congressional electees and recommend that they vote "No" on all health care reform bills that are presently proposed. All of the bills now before Congress fail to address the problem of health care. The real problem is that health care costs too much. None of the proposals, Democrat or Republican, directly attack the cost problem. All of the proposals promise more government intervention and increased cost. If any pass, we will end up with either health care that none of us can afford or government rationed care.

True reform must directly tackle cost yet maintain the fee for service method that made our health care the greatest in the world. These objectives sound like we can have our cake and eat it too and in reality we can if can get the attention of our politicians and make true reform. We have enough waste and inefficiency in the system which, if removed, will make health care affordable and at the same time provide a spirit of cooperation instead of combativeness. A full explanation of such system is much too lengthy for a letter to the editor. However, a short insight into the approach follows but you must maintain a positive attitude since reform means change. We must eradicate some bad habits that, like cancer, we have lived with for many years and now it's debilitating effects threaten our existence. Also, like cancer, the cure is unpleasant but having no treatment is worse.

We do not need to go into a shock type of reform (really a scheme of paying for the excessive costs) proposed by the politicians. We need to set up a system whereby we can work through reform in an orderly manner. The system must be under public control (as opposed to government) as much as possible. Preferably the system would consist of statewide corporations with a national coordinating corporation. The corporations would seek the passage of legislation necessary to accomplish reform objectives. The first order of business should be to reduce cost of health care for without a reduction in cost we may as well go directly to government control. A goal of 30% reduction in cost appears reasonable. After we get the growing costs under control we can install a permanent system with true economic competition at the consumer and provider level and affordable health care for everyone (subsidized care will always be needed for the bottom rungs of the economic ladder). It will not be painless and cannot be done overnight.

I have been trying for over ten years to get the politicians to make a true health care reform. They are not interested because it is not as simple as opening the taxpayer's checkbook and harvesting the votes. During the open forums held by Hillary, items for a true reform approach were suggested by several participants. Hillary duly nodded and either did not comprehend or chose to take the tear provoking approach that will destroy the best health care delivery in the world that just happens to cost too much. The thought never occurred to the politicians that true reform that will cut the cost and save the system can be the better approach.

Write your politicians and object to any health care reform that does not have direct cost cutting as the basic approach. Direct cost cutting means cutting the cost of delivery not imposing a financial squeeze on the providers.

VICTOR L. BRANT

Professional Engineer

Cape Girardeau