The community is outraged of comments such as: “Daschle says health-care reform “will not be pain free.” Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them. That means the elderly will bear the brunt.”*
As advocates for our community we need to be vigilant with the legislation our representatives are working to put through within this new “change” coming forth in Washington.
Obama’s stimulus bill goes further…. “One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his 2008 book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to Daschle, doctors have to give up autonomy and “learn to operate less like solo practitioners.”*
We agree that healthcare in America may not be perfect, although, American’s have the option of a 30 minute life flight to the hospital , instead of an 8 hour Ambulance drive, as was the case with Actress Natasha Richardson after she suffered a head injury while skiing in Canada.
We as advocates for affordable healthcare must speak up and effect positive change.
*Source: Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aLzfDxfbwhzs)