One of the most rational and well researched Pro Life Web Sites is that of American United for Life (AUL). Charmaine Yoest, PHD, the President of AUL , is one the coolest heads in our national abortion discussion. Her July 30th posting commented on the end-of-life sections of the House and Senate bills. Here is her paragraph on Section 2707 of the Senate bill.
“Section 2707 of the Senate HELP bill requires that insurers develop and implement a reimbursement structure for making payments to healthcare providers that includes incentives for use of evidence based medicine and best clinical practices. This and other provisions in the bill create the possibility that health care coverage determinations could be based on a patient’s health status, age, and/or quality of life. The resulting structure could become a means of advocating for the least expensive treatment at the expense of respect for life. With cost as a primary driver, the elderly, sick, and disabled may find their options for care severely limited.”
Some crass politicians have taken analyses such as this, restated them as facts and use them to terrorize us seniors. In fact the potential situation Dr. Yoest wants to avoid in the Heathcare reform is already a fact in our current system, particularly the private (non-governmental) segment.
“ . . . the possibility that health care coverage determinations could be based on a patient’s health status, age, and/or quality of life. The resulting structure could become a means of advocating for the least expensive treatment at the expense of respect for life.” is the present reality for most of us today. It is one of the major problems that is to addessed by the healthcare reform that is underway!"
Let me demonstrate how this form of health care rationing is already in place in our current, non-governmental system. Since these sections are used most often to frighten seniors the analysis will be from our (seniors) perspective:
health status – By the time you are my age (70) “preexisting conditions” effectively exclude economically many seniors from needed health care.
“Section 2707 of the Senate HELP bill requires that insurers develop and implement a reimbursement structure for making payments to healthcare providers that includes incentives for use of evidence based medicine and best clinical practices. This and other provisions in the bill create the possibility that health care coverage determinations could be based on a patient’s health status, age, and/or quality of life. The resulting structure could become a means of advocating for the least expensive treatment at the expense of respect for life. With cost as a primary driver, the elderly, sick, and disabled may find their options for care severely limited.”
Some crass politicians have taken analyses such as this, restated them as facts and use them to terrorize us seniors. In fact the potential situation Dr. Yoest wants to avoid in the Heathcare reform is already a fact in our current system, particularly the private (non-governmental) segment.
“ . . . the possibility that health care coverage determinations could be based on a patient’s health status, age, and/or quality of life. The resulting structure could become a means of advocating for the least expensive treatment at the expense of respect for life.” is the present reality for most of us today. It is one of the major problems that is to addessed by the healthcare reform that is underway!"
Let me demonstrate how this form of health care rationing is already in place in our current, non-governmental system. Since these sections are used most often to frighten seniors the analysis will be from our (seniors) perspective:
health status – By the time you are my age (70) “preexisting conditions” effectively exclude economically many seniors from needed health care.
Age - Many seniors have NO CHOICE but the present public plans since private insurance rates or regulations have effectively blocked them from coverage.
quality of life – This includes the first item but most notably poverty bars seniors both from insurance coverage and economically from care. Also in this category are the handicapped, disabled veterans and others whose quality of life is judged by the current insurance industry as either “non-insurable” or effectively economically bar them from coverage. Many whose quality of life is considered below standard CURRENTLY HAVE NO CHOICE but the public plans if they are even available in their state!
the least expensive treatment at the expense of respect for life – This is a serious flaw of the current system! The private insurance industry makes no bones about doing it. Patients are routinely told that they are excluded from coverage, or their doctors or the the care their doctors have suggested are not covered. The industry is honest about this clearly appealling to their “bottom Line” to rationalize this cost based rationing.
These problems are rampant in the present system and are one of the reasons why the reform is so urgently needed. As I wrote so strongly to Senator Grassely and Issacson (see my Aug 12 posting) the Pro Life Voices must stay in the discussions to assure that this reform is actually accomplished. If your Senator or representative has abandoned the health care reform effort please contact him or her immediately and demand his/her return to the discussion. If he or she has chosen to oppose reforms such as this ask for an explaination of why he or she opposes your interests.
Read Dr Yoest's entire posting.
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