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The United States spends more on health care than any other industrialized nation, yet over 46 million Americans do not have health insurance. The 46 million uninsured Americans are not unemployed; they are hard working Americans who cannot afford the forever rising costs of health insurance. The ranks of the uninsured include over 8 million children. Within a decade, the number of Americans with little or no access to healthcare will grow to 53 million.
The infant mortality rate in the United States is higher than that of some impoverished countries. The CIA World Fact Book ranks the United States 42nd in infant mortality and the World Health Organization ranks the United States 37th in quality of care. These are statistics that every American should be ashamed of, especially those in a position to influence the reform of the Healthcare system in this country.
Healthcare is not an economic issue.
The United States is one of the richest countries in the world, spending more on healthcare than any other industrialized nation. Healthcare spending in the United States in 2004 was at $1.9 trillion and, by 2009, spending is projected to reach 2.7 trillion.
Healthcare is not a healthcare issue.
Our doctors, nurses, technicians, nutritionists, pharmacists and other healthcare providers are among the best in the world with the medical training and technical skills to meet the healthcare needs of every American.
Malpractice Insurance is not a healthcare issue.
If you listen to the healthcare debate, many will insist that malpractice litigation is a major contributor to the cost of healthcare in the United States. While malpractice litigation is a problem, it only accounted for approximately 4.5% of our total expenditure on Healthcare in 2004 and it is forecasted to account for less than 5% of the total cost in 2007.
Cost Control is a Healthcare Issue.
Of the $1.9 trillion spent on healthcare in the United States, approximately one third or $632 billion was spent on administrative costs. This is a serious problem and more has to be done to rein in these costs. I am a proponent of a universal billing and record keeping system. Records need to be automated to improve accuracy, prevent duplication of testing and reduce fraud.
Access is a Healthcare issue.
We must not ignore the importance of healthcare reform. All Americans should have equal access to health care for themselves and their families.
I will introduce and support legislation that leverages automation, allows small businesses to join together into cooperatives to obtain better rates, provides for low-cost health insurance alternatives, adds flexibility to Medicare prescription program and expands the Federally Qualified Health Center program. Additionally, I support limited stem cell research and its promise to help prevent, treat and cure debilitating diseases such as MS, Cancer and other diseases that effect many of our fellow Americans.
God help us all if we continue to play economics and politics with peoples lives.
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