Demand a Healthcare Reform Referendum!

[UKRNinUSA, RN]

It has been many moons since my last posting- some of you may remember that I am a strong advocate for universal healthcare. But I am so done with the right versus left health care debate - I just want reform. Apparently over 70% of Americans do too. Any time soon would be nice.

I watched the PBS Frontline show "Sick Around the World" last night. You can see it online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/

Informative and apolitical - it looks at the healthcare systems of UK, Japan, Taiwan, Germany and Switzerland, warts and all.

So this what I want. I want a national referendum on health care reform. The proposal might read something like:

" A bipartisan, multidisciplinary Healthcare Reform Committee shall be established that will examine the American health insurance system and propose a new system aimed at cost control/universal coverage/quality care. The findings of the committee will be presented to the American people 1 year from the date of its inception. A further referendum will be held to approve/disapprove the new system"

Just imagine - we could have a government by the people for the people and solve some real problems. Is anyone with me ?

[ZASHAGALKA, RN]

I want massive reform too.

Get the government out of healthcare. Stop subsidizing employer backed health-care. End federal mandates that drive up costs for everybody. HSA accounts for all, with gov't asst if necessary. Catastrophic insurance that kicks in only for hospitalizations or chronic care that surpasses a reasonable cap. End Medicare. Replace it with a subsidy system that is means tested. End all other gov't healthcare, medicaid, etc - switch all gov't plans over to HSA/Catastrophic Insurance plans. Deregulate prescription medications so that all drugs are subject to market competition.

The gov't is the problem with health care. It's time for a solution that works and that is a solution that gets the government out of the way from between you and your doctor.

The very best reform would be freedom to choose - making you the customer, again.

~faith,

Timothy.

[UKRNinUSA, RN]

I want massive reform too.

So we agree! Let's do it. Lets demand a referendum on healthcare reform.

(check out the frontline show -there is another thread on it)

[Simplepleasures]

This was an excellent program!! Very informative.The key is to set a standard for price for doctors and hospitals, keeping the cost of health care down.Also mandating health care with the government paying premiums for the for the poor.I think it was interesting that all that were asked how many of their citizens went bankrupt from health care debt, all answered no of course not and looked shocked.Also the shocked looks when told Americas did not believe health care was a basic human right.