.
Feedback

Health Care Ruling: Will the People Win?

Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare

By Arthur H. Gunther III

thecolumnrule.com

columnrule@blogspot.com

 

Where is U.S. health care headed now that the Supreme Court has ruled valid most of President Obama’s legislation? Will we see real reform, or will the special interests -- insurance companies, providers, Medicare and Medicaid mills -- influence the law to take profit over service? Will the promise of a healthier nation -- medically, mentally, economically and socially -- come to pass? The high court ruled 5-4, but the jury is still out on the future of health care.

Republicans will try, through repeal, to make moot the SCOTUS decision affirming  President Obama’s insistence that nearly all Americans obtain health insurance or pay a penalty. Yet even if that should somehow happen, you can bet the same special interests are already crafting ways to manipulate the process to their advantage.

Forgive the cynicism, but if this endless debate about insuring Americans were really about keeping and making people healthier, there would have been no need to take expensive lawering to the courts or to posture so long in Democratic, Republican, Conservative and Tea Party wings.

From day one, soon after Obama took office, and even before that considering the outrageous rise in health care costs and premiums and the systematic reduction, even termination, of health insurance by big business, the decision could have been made under one premise.

Premise: (1) proper care, fully available to all regardless of pre-existing condition, as securely guaranteed as are the freedoms of speech and religion; (2) costs regulated by government so as to derail the profit/greed factor; (3) with provision 2 in effect, private companies, not the government, would be best at providing insurance in a country where government growth and decision-making are of great concern. 

Under this premise, our nation, conceived and bathed in the rights of humankind, would declare health care as a given right, as vital to the national defense as is a prepared military. Surely anyone of any political persuasion could agree to this.

But what did America get in the debate? An Obama plan and a Republican plan, both lobbied by insurance companies, physicians, Medicare and Medicaid providers, all of who have livelihoods and investors waiting on the federal and state dime. 

While the SCOTUS decision allows “Obamacare” to proceed, hopefully staving  off soaring medical costs that threaten to  make us insolvent and impotent as a world power, the players on the U.S. medical scene will not easily acquiesce if profit is threatened, if prestige is lost, if bailiwick is confined. All these interests have some legitimate concerns -- for example, malpractice insurance costs -- but ever since premiums began to rise exponentially in the 1980s, the focus has moved from  the patient and gone to the wallet.

President Obama says the decision “was a victory for people all over this country whose lives are more secure because of this law.” But I wonder if the “people” will indeed be served as the plan plays out, or will other interests win in a country that seems to have forgotten its citizens.

There is opportunity to secure health care for all, to promote preventive care, to increase the nation’s well-being and productivity, even creativity, through affordable health care, but as we have seen following the banking fiasco, the spoils do not go to the people, only to the greedy.

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from New City Patch? Find your Local Patch »

robert pidgeon June 29, 2012 at 07:47 pm
if we stopped giving billions to other countries, we would'nt be talking about this or any money problems
BG7 June 29, 2012 at 08:12 pm
The Act also included a biosimilars pathway. Like when a chemical drug goes off patent (like Lipitor) you can get a cheaper generic version. Now, with this Act passed, you will be able to get a cheaper generic version of hugely expensive biological drugs like Avastin ( costs $50,000 a year) or Enbrel. The Congressional Budget Office (nonpartisan) has estimated biosimilars could cut the country's total drug spending by $25 billion over 10 years and could reduce the government's direct spending, through Medicare and other programs, by $7 billion.
My prescription is to stop worrying about whether this is pro-Obama or anti-Obama or all that nonsense (do you really think ONE party has ALL the right answers?) . Start thinking about - is this a better state of affairs than we had?
JJ June 29, 2012 at 08:22 pm
BG7, Good point.
This same scenario is what helped destroy the United Hospital in Port Chester . I know we have to help less fortunate people, and I'm for that, but the WELL has gone dry in America. This new TAX (21 of them) will NOT help the situation...........
Theresa June 29, 2012 at 08:38 pm
BG7:
Biosimilar doesn't mean identical, and so there's a patient safety issue. Just because it sounds good, doesn't mean it is. And, IMO, both parties have major problems, but Obama & the current band of crooks & liars are the very last thing this country needs.
Theresa June 29, 2012 at 08:39 pm
til the $$ runs out. Then what? Maybe you can just write personal checks to the govt.
Theresa June 29, 2012 at 08:40 pm
While you're at it: close the borders, deport illegals & slash welfare. That's for starters.
Felicia June 29, 2012 at 08:59 pm
You are assuming that the number of doctors practicing will remain the same once we are all on gov't healthcare. Many doctors will not take patients on Meidcare/ Medicaid because the gov't doesn't pay enough.
Felicia June 29, 2012 at 09:00 pm
I can not understand people who believe that the government will be a better steward for their well being than themselves and their chosen doctors.
Felicia June 29, 2012 at 09:05 pm
From what I understand, it is not the Supreme Court's place to re-write a bill or law that has already been passed by the other branches of government - so as to change it from being unconstitutional to constitutional. And one other note - Obama was just as surprised as the rest of us that his law was upheld... doesn't that say something. He knows what he did and is doing is wrong. Unfortunately the Supreme Court didn't do their job to stop him.
Felicia June 29, 2012 at 09:08 pm
http://freebeacon.com/obama-to-soldiers-pay-up/ Interesting one day after...
Felicia June 29, 2012 at 09:11 pm
BG7 - my answer is a resounding NO! Gov't healthcare is not the answer. We will be worse off in 5 years.
BG7 June 29, 2012 at 09:12 pm
Write personal checks to the gov? I already do - its called AMT!
Dan Seidel June 29, 2012 at 09:13 pm
NYS has had a law on the books for decades - the insurers operating in NYS all pay into a pool that covers most of the unpaid billings for hospitals - one way or another, the rate payers pay - the marketplace should figure this out, not the gov't. The ability of insurers to sell INTERSTATE will bring on competition and price decreases. This entire exercise was unnecessary - the market was already moving to do what O care presumes - just more risk/reward oriented. This is a scam and the SCOTUS set precedent for gov't control of individual liberty.
America is jumping the shark. We are post-Constitutional at this point. FIGHT BACK!! NOBAMA IN 2012!!!
BG7 June 29, 2012 at 09:14 pm
Right, the biosimilars have to be FDA-approved based on them being convinced of its safety data.
Felicia June 29, 2012 at 09:15 pm
Hasn't anyone noticed the gov't putting out "Trial Balloons" on their recommendations for Mammo's and Psa test? recommending that people begin these screening tests later in life. And why do you think that is?
BG7 June 29, 2012 at 09:16 pm
The Supreme Ct's job is not to stop the president, any president. The Sup. Ct's job is to determine if the challeneged law is constitutional or not. They get to decide that, not anyone else. Thats how the US system is set up.
BG7 June 29, 2012 at 09:21 pm
A doctor will be providing your healthcare.
Theresa June 29, 2012 at 09:29 pm
A doctor will be providing your healthcare if: 1) your issue is deemed important enough to be seen. 2) you can get an appt. before you die. 3) there are any MDs left practicing.
Good luck. The quality & quantity of your care is about to go way down. But yay!! it's "free" for everybody, and as long as you feel good about yourself, that's all that matters.
Felicia June 29, 2012 at 09:29 pm
BG7 No, a government bureaucrat will be deciding your health care. The government will hold the purse strings. So if your doctor says you need a test, surgery, a procedure but the government bureaucrats don't agree you can either pay for it out of pocket or not have it done. If you don't like it you can... well you won't be able to go to another insurance carrier anymore.
Felicia June 29, 2012 at 09:33 pm
Gov't recommends women begin mammos in their 50's - more than 24,000 women under the age of 45 are diagnosed with breast cancer a year in the US. http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/american_cancer_societys_new_a.html
Here are the gov't recommendations on psa testing - http://news.consumerreports.org/health/2012/05/psa-screening-tests-not-a-great-idea-government-panel-says.html
BG7 June 29, 2012 at 09:35 pm
So, after the hyperbolic hysteria dies down, you will not find a mass exodus of MDs to other countries, nor you will find young people refusing to enter medicine as a career. And how is it "free" when one is forced to pay for it exactly?
The government will continue to fund NIH, pharmaceutical compaines will continue to innovate and patent, as will medical researchers, doctors will continue to treat patients in the world's largest economy where they can make the most money.
Cadeyrn June 29, 2012 at 09:39 pm
Just another opportunity for government to slither into your lives ... and eventually tell you everything you should be doing or feeling ... reality not withstanding.
BG7 June 29, 2012 at 09:39 pm
You mean go to an insurance carrier, whose private-sector bureaucrats, I mean employees, would deny anything not profitable. And would deny patients with pre-existing conditions. And are already quite qualified at denying. So, in this bleak sky-is-fallin panicked future you envisage, you wouldn't have the choice of getting denied by them?
BG7 June 29, 2012 at 09:42 pm
I must leave for the evening to enjoy my weekend, and I will be checking next week to see if monomania is a treatable condition under the new act!
God bless all the angry ones, may you find peace.
Felicia June 29, 2012 at 09:45 pm
BG7 - in response to your comment above - we don't currently have a healthcare system run by the free market - we have a healthcare system over regulated by the government.
Enjoy your weekend.
Felicia June 29, 2012 at 09:48 pm
You are so right! It seems so obvious to me and just don't understand why others don't see this too.
Bjorn Olsson June 29, 2012 at 10:12 pm
NIce start, let's hope we can work our way towards a better single-payer situation eventually. Medicare for all should do the trick.
Mike June 29, 2012 at 11:22 pm
Bjorn, you may be right. Too bad we have to go through this Trillion dollar experiment to find out.
Mike June 29, 2012 at 11:29 pm
BG7. Thanks. I'm not angry but thanks for your prayers for all. Let's hope we all have a good w/e and enjoy our families, friends, our freedom, and the ability to discuss, argue and I guess at times piss each other off! I know you love this country a much as I do and as much as all those folks that agree with this ruling. You know next week, we celebrate our Independence Day and despite the flaws, the angst, the frustrations I am so VERY HAPPY, I live here and call myself American. And I am very happy all of you who I might disagree with on this issue are here too and I am glad you are AMERICANS too. Peace and enjoy the sunshine.
Joe July 1, 2012 at 01:27 am
experiment is right!
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Jimmy R June 14, 2013 at 05:10 pm
The first thing little Frankie wanted to know was that since he was mayor of Suffern for the day,Read More could he get his bicycle fixed at the village Department of Public Works.
Paul Williams June 16, 2013 at 08:33 am
He also wanted to know the most effective method of spying on the other kids so he could get electedRead More Class President.
Green Farmer June 13, 2013 at 01:39 pm
Why not cut out the middle man and just send the money directly to the religious schools.
Paul Williams June 16, 2013 at 08:27 am
If they reported all their income........if every other home was not owned by a "RABBI"Read More and tax free.....if they returned all the books and learning materials they "borrowed" .......ETC ETC.....Get real Weeder.
Green Farmer June 13, 2013 at 01:42 pm
It will never happen.
M. Leybra June 16, 2013 at 07:25 pm
Shouldn't be happening in the first place & "requiring" another law to stop rippingRead More off Joe Blow taxpayer for county government elite, disgusting.
Champs pose for a picture (photo by Craig Fetterman)
Kevin Zawacki (Editor) June 12, 2013 at 11:03 am
Congratulations to the Cubs!
Scott F. June 12, 2013 at 11:35 am
The boys were awesome last night and all season long, a well deserved Championship for a great groupRead More of boys
Lisa Buchman (Editor) June 13, 2013 at 11:20 am
Fantastic! Just posted the photo on New City Facebook too!
Aerial of United Water's proposed water treatment plant
Tom Nimick June 11, 2013 at 09:23 pm
Mr. Pointing says that an issues conference is unusual. The unusual step is called for because thisRead More project is highly unusual; it is unprecedented. This French-owned water company wants to implement its pet technology at our expense - it makes sense for the company because the project makes lots of money. There is information available that calls into question the "definitive" studies carried out by the water company. Of course they found that their technology was the best option - what a surprise! They have not made the case that they carried out a disinterested examination of the issues in the public interest. Yes there are still issues. Also, stop threatening us with increased costs from delay. First, it does not make sense and second, you are trying to bully us into accepting your proposal. That is one more sign that something is wrong in your proposal.
John Taggart June 13, 2013 at 08:08 am
An issues conference will be a wast of time and money. So many ' issues ' have been pulled out ofRead More thin air. The people who organized against the plant will just keep saying the same thing. No amount of info will be enough, no answer will be accepted. The issues conference will be a circus of endless questions, ideas, and demands. Haverstraw bay reclassified as drinking water will better protect it, provide an endless supply of water and finally help end the stereotype of the Hudson being polluted Recommend
mike sullivan June 11, 2013 at 08:14 pm
get a life
Tom Nimick June 11, 2013 at 09:12 pm
There were no open meetings. I attended the April meeting and Mr. Lettre was directed by the TownRead More Board to return with more precise estimates and to include options for other upgrades. I have attended every meeting of the Town Board since that time and Mr. Lettre never returned in an open meeting. Mr. Borelli indicated that Mr. Lettre had addressed his concerns directly and privately. According to the Open Meetings Law, the deliberations of the Town Board are to be open and visible to the public. Private individual meetings or communications with members of the Town Board so as to avoid open deliberations flouts the intent of the Open Meetings Law. Mr. Gromack's statement of other meetings is inaccurate and, since it was specifically in response to a question about open meetings, dishonest. Mr. Borelli, shame on you for accepting a private communication and not standing by your guidance to Mr. Lettre that he was to come back to an open meeting of the Town Board.
Watchdog June 17, 2013 at 04:27 pm
Borelli and Ho -Man are in the bag for Lettre. They are not Republicans...just political hacks forRead More Lettre. RINOS.
galledeb June 10, 2013 at 10:45 am
How can I get more information? When and where are auditions?
Maddie June 10, 2013 at 04:25 pm
You can contact Pastor Robin at rdemaggio@ramapocentral.org
Tracy Urvater June 13, 2013 at 09:25 am
What are the dates of this camp?
Cicadas emerging from their 17 year slumber.
Kevin Zawacki (Editor) June 9, 2013 at 09:32 pm
Thanks for sharing, Grace! Your thoughts on their noise?
Grace Anthony Zemsky June 10, 2013 at 09:00 am
The traffic from the nearby Palisades Parkway is more of a noise nuisance than the cicada chorus.Read More (We have triple-paned windows because of it.) There is something almost musical about the hum of the cicadas. Of course, it may bother me more if I lived in the "affected area" and heard it constantly. Upon entering this nearby neighborhood, the sound crescendos. And yet, it can't be heard a couple of streets away. The drone of locusts is more bothersome than these 17 year cicadas.
Coleen Crowe June 10, 2013 at 01:30 pm
There are swarms of them at my house in upper nyack. Take a ride down Broadway in Upper Nyack nearRead More Nyack beach and they are super loud.
Linda June 8, 2013 at 10:39 am
I missed this! Is there still a way to get a signed copy? Maybe he will do another signing?
John Murphy June 11, 2013 at 08:20 am
This is the most accurate word picture of one of the tragic corollary side effects of one ofRead More humanities ' gruesome failings , which is war. Thank you Pam Sitomer for putting your writing genius to work for a noble cause.