Opinion: New prognoses for health care reform

The week-long ‘dust-up’ between Daniel Zingale and Anthony Wright on Governor Schwarzenegger’s health care proposals was really remarkable (Feb 26- Mar. 2). In spite of many references to a ‘broken’ health care system there was no discussion whatever of what broke it. It was essentially a debate between State Capitalism and Socialism. The only options presented were a choice between more mandates, regulations, government subsidies, rules, administrators, agencies, and taxes on the one hand, versus medical Socialism and a complete government take-over of health care on the other. Concepts such as individual freedom, markets, personal choice, privacy of medical records, competition or deregulation were completely alien to the discussion. The idea that the government might stop doing even one of the many things it now does that drive up the cost of health care and insurance is clearly not possible in the world these debaters live in. The thought that physicians might also have rights which must be considered was irrelevant to both parties.

The large number of dueling errors used in this clash cannot be addressed or even listed in a letter. Suffice it to say that readers should know that there are other options.

Congratulations to the Times for its recent ‘Dust-Up’ series exploring two sides of the Governor’s Health Plan. Daniel Zingate’s comments reflected the shared responsibility approach of the Schwarzenegger initiative that requires all stakeholders to participate in the solutions to the current crisis. A cornerstone is that every individual must participate in the new plan to avoid the hidden tax that insured Californians’s pay to subsidize care for the uninsured. All working adults in our State must enroll in this lifetime insurance program (just like social security) that collects from the healthy to support the sick. The plan will also require reqular medical office visits with parrticular emphasis on preventive care and rewards for healthy life styles. Doctors, hospitals and insurers will make contributions to subsidize federal and state grant increases to provide financial assistance to the under/uninsured. Unfortunately, Anthony Wright continues to be obsessed with a government run single payer system, supporting grossly inequitable and unfair differences in insured coverage (like first dollar cost coverage) and his instance that the Governor’s proposal will take away care from the uninsured. Let’s keep the dialogue going in ever more detail!