John Edwards’ commentary made for nice political rhetoric. I have one question: What tax cut for those making $200,000 is he referring to?
His piece hits all the right points people want to hear, but has nothing to back it up. The reason healthcare spends 30 cents of every dollar on administration is to keep up with the ever-increasing regulations and reports needed to meet state and federal requirements to get reimbursed. If Medicare is going to lead, it needs some serious reform.
My father had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and through Medicare leased an inhaler device for his medication at more cost per month than the device’s price. Medicare does not pay for the devices to be purchased, only leased. This is one of hundreds of examples of how government systems do nothing but cost providers money.
Electronic medical records are a wonderful dream, but thanks to former President Clinton, who left us all with the HIPAA legacy, the creation of such “secure” electronic document trails is extremely expensive. It is nice to hear these wonderful speeches about universal healthcare from senators, who will in their retirement never have to pay for or worry about healthcare for the rest of their lives.
It would be nice to postulate on the future of an industry when you personally never will have to worry about how to pay for your own care between retirement and Medicare, if you choose to retire before 65.
Jerry Welsh
President and chief executive officerHPSMiddleville, Mich.
Aiming for truly universal coverage
Unless one ensures that the term “pre-existing condition” no longer exists and every person in the U.S. can walk into a doctor’s office, clinic or hospital and be guaranteed treatment for whatever the condition, disease or injury, without regard for “ability to pay,” the system is clearly not universal health coverage.
Tim Flynn
Denver
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