What the president and the ANA says about our health care "reform" UP TO DATE INFO

Nurses Activism

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Specializes in nursing home, home health, hospital.

the president along with the american nurses association speak about out "health care reform."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/nurses-join-the-call-for-health-care-reform/

more is followed from the white house's home page:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health_care/

i suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. it will be hard. but i also know that nearly a century after teddy roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and the conscience of our nation long enough. so let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year."

- president barack obama, february 24, 2009

progress

  • the president signed the children's health insurance reauthorization act on february 4, 2009, which provides quality health care to 11 million kids - 4 million who were previously uninsured.
  • the president's american recovery and reinvestment act protects health coverage for 7 million americans who lose their jobs through a 65 percent cobra subsidy to make coverage affordable.
  • the recovery act also invests $19 billion in computerized medical records that will help to reduce costs and improve quality while ensuring patients' privacy.
  • the recovery act also provides:
    • $1 billion for prevention and wellness to improve america's health and help to reduce health care costs;
    • $1.1 billion for research to give doctors tools to make the best treatment decisions for their patients by providing objective information on the relative benefits of treatments; and
    • $500 million for health workforce to help train the next generation of doctors and nurses.

guiding principles

president obama is committed to working with congress to pass comprehensive health reform in his first year in order to control rising health care costs, guarantee choice of doctor, and assure high-quality, affordable health care for all americans.

comprehensive health care reform can no longer wait. rapidly escalating health care costs are crushing family, business, and government budgets. employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have doubled in the last 9 years, a rate 3 times faster than cumulative wage increases. this forces families to sit around the kitchen table to make impossible choices between paying rent or paying health premiums. given all that we spend on health care, american families should not be presented with that choice. the united states spent approximately $2.2 trillion on health care in 2007, or $7,421 per person - nearly twice the average of other developed nations. americans spend more on health care than on housing or food. if rapid health cost growth persists, the congressional budget office estimates that by 2025, one out of every four dollars in our national economy will be tied up in the health system. this growing burden will limit other investments and priorities that are needed to grow our economy. rising health care costs also affect our economic competitiveness in the global economy, as american companies compete against companies in other countries that have dramatically lower health care costs.

the president has vowed that the health reform process will be different in his administration - an open, inclusive, and transparent process where all ideas are encouraged and all parties work together to find a solution to the health care crisis. working together with members of congress, doctors and hospitals, businesses and unions, and other key health care stakeholders, the president is committed to making sure we finally enact comprehensive health care reform.

the administration believes that comprehensive health reform should:

  • reduce long-term growth of health care costs for businesses and government
  • protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs
  • guarantee choice of doctors and health plans
  • invest in prevention and wellness
  • improve patient safety and quality of care
  • assure affordable, quality health coverage for all americans
  • maintain coverage when you change or lose your job
  • end barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions

please visit www.healthreform.gov to learn more about the president's commitment to enacting comprehensive health reform this year.

maybe it's me but the word "reform" sparks more anxiety then it does hope for the future. i suppose only time will tell. though i must say i didn't appreciate that our president only included registered nurses in his estimation as "nurses" on the one video i have attached. perhaps i am just being too easily insulted but i worked to become a nurse as well even if that means i'm not a registered nurse. as well such is life...

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Specializes in Anesthesia, CCRN, SRNA.

The President also said if his $787 billion plan was passed that unemployment wouldn't go above 8.5%. Last time I checked it was in double digits. I don't believe I thing this guy says. He is a smooth talker but his talk is cheap. His plans for fixing our economy are not. The ANA and him are on the wrong path towards healthcare reform. If you really want to lower costs, do some tort reform. Cap medical malpractice claims.

Will that happen with this administration?? NO WAY! Why? Because the trial lawyers are in the back pockets of the Democrats. The lawyers are getting reach off of malpractice claims while the rest of the US suffers.

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The President also said if his $787 billion plan was passed that unemployment wouldn't go above 8.5%. Last time I checked it was in double digits. I don't believe I thing this guy says. He is a smooth talker but his talk is cheap. His plans for fixing our economy are not. The ANA and him are on the wrong path towards healthcare reform. If you really want to lower costs, do some tort reform. Cap medical malpractice claims.

Will that happen with this administration?? NO WAY! Why? Because the trial lawyers are in the back pockets of the Democrats. The lawyers are getting reach off of malpractice claims while the rest of the US suffers.

Good to know that Obama respects nurses and allows our participation in the upcoming healthcare reform.

Wow, Obama wasn't Nostradamus when it came to predicting how bad the unemployment rate would be. OMG, that must mean he is wrong about everything!!!

Only those who are Republican/Conservative faithfuls actually think in this illogical manner.

Medical malpractice as the main reason for high healthcare cost is a red herring. The reason healthcare costs so much is because of the middle men known as insurance companies that need to raise their earnings every quarter to keep stockholders happy. Taking 30% of the administrative costs of healthcare seems like a better place to start than medical malpractice.

I for one know first hand (and Im sure many of you do too) where doctors and hospitals make mistakes. We're all human beings and mistakes happen. Sometimes mistakes happen because doctors are too cocky and they become careless. In such circumstances, I think the patient deserves compensation. If it were my kid that was medically injured, I sure as well would fight to be made whole.

A 2004 study of medical malpractice claims in the United States examining primary care malpractice found that though incidence of negligence in hospitals produced a greater proportion of severe outcomes, the total number of errors and deaths due to errors were greater for outpatient settings. No single medical condition was associated with more than five percent of all negligence claims, and one-third of all claims were the result of misdiagnosis.[6]

A recent study by Healthgrades found that an average of 195,000 hospital deaths in each of the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 in the U.S. were due to potentially preventable medical errors. Researchers examined 37 million patient records and applied the mortality and economic impact models developed by Dr. Chunliu Zhan and Dr. Marlene R. Miller in a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in October 2003. The Zhan and Miller study supported the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) 1999 report conclusion, which found that medical errors caused up to 98,000 deaths annually and should be considered a national epidemic.[7] Some researchers questioned the accuracy of the 1999 IOM study, reporting both significant subjectivity in determining which deaths were "avoidable" or due to medical error and an erroneous assumption that 100% of patients would have survived if optimal care had been provided. A 2001 study in JAMA estimated that only 1 in 10,000 patients admitted to the hospital would have lived for 3 months or more had "optimal" care been provided.[8]

A 2006 follow-up to the 1999 Institute of Medicine study found that medication errors are among the most common medical mistakes, harming at least 1.5 million people every year. According to the study, 400,000 preventable drug-related injuries occur each year in hospitals, 800,000 in long-term care settings, and roughly 530,000 among Medicare recipients in outpatient clinics. The report stated that these are likely to be conservative estimates. In 2000 alone, the extra medical costs incurred by preventable drug related injuries approximated $887 million - and the study looked only at injuries sustained by Medicare recipients, a subset of clinic visitors. None of these figures take into account lost wages and productivity or other costs.[9]

Most (73%) settled malpractice claims involve medical error. A 2006 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that claims without evidence of error "are not uncommon, but most [72%] are denied compensation. The vast majority of expenditures [54%] go toward litigation over errors and payment of them. The overhead costs of malpractice litigation are exorbitant." Physicians examined the records of 1452 closed malpractice claims. Ninety-seven percent were associated with injury; of them, 73% got compensation. Three percent of the claims were not associated with injuries; of them, 16% got compensation. 63% were associated with errors; of them, 73% got compensation (average $521,560). Thirty-seven percent were not associated with errors; of them, 28% got compensation (average $313,205). Claims not associated with errors accounted for 13 to 16% percent of the total costs. For every dollar spent on compensation, 54 cents went to administrative expenses (including lawyers, experts, and courts). Claims involving errors accounted for 78 percent of administrative costs.[10][11]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_malpractice#Statistics

Of course there are also frivolous lawsuits as well. However, to say that this is the prime reason for healthcare costs spiraling out of control is just ridiculous. Its a common Republican talking point aimed to distract us from the real problem. This problem is a systemic problem based upon a profit motivated health insurance foundation. Every westernized industrial nation has figured this out, except us.

I am really glad that Obama recognizes that healthcare isn't just doctors and the AMA. Change is coming folks, a public option insurance policy is on the horizon. We will finally have a choice in our healthcare and will have more options. No more will the private profit motivated health insurance industry have the monopoly on healthcare. No more will those with pre-existing conditions be denied coverage or be priced out of care. No more will some cubicle monkey actuary be used to determine if our procedure is too expensive or not.

Its not going to be easy, but nothing worth while ever is. There are powerful industrial lobbies, such as those from the pharmaceutical industry that "DrugRep" use to be a part of, that are fighting this tooth and nail. They realize that they're about to lose their golden goose. Stay strong. Keep up the fight.

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The President also said if his $787 billion plan was passed that unemployment wouldn't go above 8.5%. Last time I checked it was in double digits. I don't believe I thing this guy says. He is a smooth talker but his talk is cheap. His plans for fixing our economy are not. The ANA and him are on the wrong path towards healthcare reform. If you really want to lower costs, do some tort reform. Cap medical malpractice claims.

Will that happen with this administration?? NO WAY! Why? Because the trial lawyers are in the back pockets of the Democrats. The lawyers are getting reach off of malpractice claims while the rest of the US suffers.

McAllen, TX spends the most money on healthcare per person, and it's not because of malpractice. In Texas, malpractice lawsuits are capped at 250K. I don't agree the issue would be significantly resolved with malpractice reform.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/06/01/090601fa_fact_gawande?currentPage=all

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Specializes in nursing home, home health, hospital.

Please remain respectful to one anothers view points wheather they are politically based or not. I didn't post this information so that those on allnurses could down play each other and start a heated political argument. It's one thing to be passionate about a subject and it's another thing to just get mad and say something mean or hurtful. I mean seriously can't you guys come up with something productive to say about the topic instead of bashing on each other political parties as you did below?

Because the trial lawyers are in the back pockets of the Democrats.

Only those who are Republican/Conservative faithfuls actually think in this illogical manner.

So much for being mature adults. let me guess since one person bashed on the others political party or views than the other one of you had to return fire. Right??

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Specializes in Medical.

Healthcare has had much more to do with business practices than health care for decades. I, for one, am glad to see a serious effort make it to the top of the nation's to-do list. It's time to control spiraling costs and overcome the lack of care offered by our present system. We nurses have a front-row seat; how's it working for you in your hospital? Mine is all business.

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Since I can't edit my original post, I'll try to re-state what I meant.

Drug Rep contends that Obama is not believable, that he is a "smooth talker" and that his actions won't fix the economy. This is based upon his observation that Obama's prediction of the unemployment rate was inaccurate. I don't think I need to point out he grand canyon size gulf of logic here.

Only partisan loyalists try to bend such ideological propaganda into truisms. I simply can't allow such ridiculous statements to go unchecked. Such a thing would be unpatriotic.

Furthermore, I didn't see how it related to this news of the President meeting with the ANA and including us in the healthcare reform discussion. I think thats something we all can appreciate.

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Hitler and Stalin were great change agents as well. How about Hugo Chavez he has brought tremendous change to his country empty food shelves, shutting down the opposition he too is trying to build the country from the bottom up. This President is a failure and finally the AMerican people are starting to see it. I will entertain the thought of government run health care when Congress and the President give up there health care plans in favor of this one.

"Ignorance the most expensive commodity we pay for in this country" Rush Limbaugh

Good to know that Obama respects nurses and allows our participation in the upcoming healthcare reform.

Wow, Obama wasn't Nostradamus when it came to predicting how bad the unemployment rate would be. OMG, that must mean he is wrong about everything!!!

Only those who are Republican/Conservative faithfuls actually think in this illogical manner.

Medical malpractice as the main reason for high healthcare cost is a red herring. The reason healthcare costs so much is because of the middle men known as insurance companies that need to raise their earnings every quarter to keep stockholders happy. Taking 30% of the administrative costs of healthcare seems like a better place to start than medical malpractice.

I for one know first hand (and Im sure many of you do too) where doctors and hospitals make mistakes. We're all human beings and mistakes happen. Sometimes mistakes happen because doctors are too cocky and they become careless. In such circumstances, I think the patient deserves compensation. If it were my kid that was medically injured, I sure as well would fight to be made whole.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_malpractice#Statistics

Of course there are also frivolous lawsuits as well. However, to say that this is the prime reason for healthcare costs spiraling out of control is just ridiculous. Its a common Republican talking point aimed to distract us from the real problem. This problem is a systemic problem based upon a profit motivated health insurance foundation. Every westernized industrial nation has figured this out, except us.

I am really glad that Obama recognizes that healthcare isn't just doctors and the AMA. Change is coming folks, a public option insurance policy is on the horizon. We will finally have a choice in our healthcare and will have more options. No more will the private profit motivated health insurance industry have the monopoly on healthcare. No more will those with pre-existing conditions be denied coverage or be priced out of care. No more will some cubicle monkey actuary be used to determine if our procedure is too expensive or not.

Its not going to be easy, but nothing worth while ever is. There are powerful industrial lobbies, such as those from the pharmaceutical industry that "DrugRep" use to be a part of, that are fighting this tooth and nail. They realize that they're about to lose their golden goose. Stay strong. Keep up the fight.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Only way to control costs is rationing! Since the government has gotten involed in the student loan program have colleges and universities become more affordable?

Healthcare has had much more to do with business practices than health care for decades. I, for one, am glad to see a serious effort make it to the top of the nation's to-do list. It's time to control spiraling costs and overcome the lack of care offered by our present system. We nurses have a front-row seat; how's it working for you in your hospital? Mine is all business.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hitler and Stalin were great change agents as well. How about Hugo Chavez he has brought tremendous change to his country empty food shelves, shutting down the opposition he too is trying to build the country from the bottom up. This President is a failure and finally the AMerican people are starting to see it. I will entertain the thought of government run health care when Congress and the President give up there health care plans in favor of this one.

"Ignorance the most expensive commodity we pay for in this country" Rush Limbaugh

You just compare Obama to Hitler, Stalin and Chavez. Then you quoted Rush Limbaugh. :uhoh3:

Enough said.

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McAllen; might as well have said El Paso. How many illegals get health care in McAllen?

McAllen, TX spends the most money on healthcare per person, and it's not because of malpractice. In Texas, malpractice lawsuits are capped at 250K. I don't agree the issue would be significantly resolved with malpractice reform.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/06/01/090601fa_fact_gawande?currentPage=all

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McAllen; might as well have said El Paso. How many illegals get health care in McAllen?

If you read the article, they compare spending in McAllen and El Paso, McAllen being double El Paso. Furthermore, the article discusses Medicare spending, and if I remember correctly, illegal immigrants do not qualify for Medicare.

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