Start with the facts on health care
Editorial
Mankato Free Press
Sunday, August 16, 2009
There are no “death panels.” Government will not be dictating patient treatment. And the proposals for health care reform also do not call for cutting Medicare benefit levels.
These are just a few of the issues that have become greatly distorted in the national health care debate soon to be making the rounds to a town hall meeting near you.
FactCheck.org, the nonpartisan, nonprofit, fact-checking and research organization at the University of Pennsylvania, published Friday a list of “Seven Falsehoods About Health Care.”
The entire report is worth reading for anyone who wants to be informed about this complex issue.
Fear mongering generated by opponents to health care reform gave life to the lie that the plans called for a government panel, the so-called “death panel,” that would “pull the plug on grandma.” Nothing is further from the truth. That stemmed from a provision in one of the proposals that allowed for counseling on end of life issues. If seniors choose to set out plans for care like they would in a living will, then Medicare will actually pay for them to discuss those care issues with their doctor.
(Continued here.)
Mankato Free Press
Sunday, August 16, 2009
There are no “death panels.” Government will not be dictating patient treatment. And the proposals for health care reform also do not call for cutting Medicare benefit levels.
These are just a few of the issues that have become greatly distorted in the national health care debate soon to be making the rounds to a town hall meeting near you.
FactCheck.org, the nonpartisan, nonprofit, fact-checking and research organization at the University of Pennsylvania, published Friday a list of “Seven Falsehoods About Health Care.”
The entire report is worth reading for anyone who wants to be informed about this complex issue.
Fear mongering generated by opponents to health care reform gave life to the lie that the plans called for a government panel, the so-called “death panel,” that would “pull the plug on grandma.” Nothing is further from the truth. That stemmed from a provision in one of the proposals that allowed for counseling on end of life issues. If seniors choose to set out plans for care like they would in a living will, then Medicare will actually pay for them to discuss those care issues with their doctor.
(Continued here.)
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1 Comments:
One comment that has been stated repeatedly is that patients want to retain their own physician. Well, Dr. Stelter is not my present physician but based on this LetterToTheEditor of the StPeterHerald, I sure would want him.
Opportunity to improving health system
Posted: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 8:46 pm
Americans have talked about, criticized and worried about health care reform for decades. This year, there’s real opportunity for substantially improving our nation’s health care system. Recently there have political tactics that have tried to inflame the public and create a sense that we cannot or should not create a productive health care reform bill this year. We can’t allow disruptive politics to again stand in the way of real reform. We need a call for CONSTRUCTIVE politics that will actually help solve the problems many Americans are facing. Each day in my life as a physician I see many working patients who cannot afford medications and simply do not get even basic care for diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
We need reform that provides basic health coverage for all American Citizens and ensures access to a patient-centered medical home where a personal physician can meet most of our health needs. We can have that reform with passage of legislation such as the Affordable Health Choices Act being debated in the U.S. Senate. This proposal would provide coverage for everyone through employers, the private market or a public plan that offers options while preserving the current healthcare marketplace. It supports primary care medical education, breaks down the barriers to becoming a primary care physician, and expands patients’ access to health services.
If we want meaningful reform, we need to let our senators know we support this legislation and want to continue a PRODUCTIVE debate. We must find a uniquely American solution that controls ever increasing health care costs and gives our patients peace of mind when it comes to their health care.
Keith Stelter MD
St. Peter
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Let me know if you want a link.
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