Essay on Health Leadership and Community Development

One of the major players in the health care reform debate is the pharmaceutical companies. (“Key Players Health Care Reform” 1) Based on the amount it is currently spending and the other amount it is willing to spend more just so it can have its interest can be protected it can be argued that it is having the biggest impact on health care debate. 

According to Karen Tumulty and Michael Scherer, in the first six months of 2009 alone, drug companies and their trade association have spent more than $110 million on lobbying efforts to influence the lawmakers. (Tumulty & Scherer 2)  Moreover, they have recently promised the Obama Administration they are willing to shell out $80 Billion over the next 10 years to lower the cost of medication for seniors and help pay for President Obama’s proposed healthcare reform bill. (Gaouette & Johnston 1) According to President Obama, "This is a significant breakthrough on the road to health-care reform, one that will make the difference in the lives of many older Americans." (“Obama announces drug companies deal” 1)

The White House did not reveal what the pharmaceutical companies wanted in return for their investment but critics are up in arms on this deal.  (William Greider 1)  Some say that the sweetheart deal is a blatant violation of the principles of democracy.  Some are arguing that in the end it will be the end-users or the consumers who will suffer since the government will be restricted in seeking for lower drug prices. 

In the midst of the debate on health care reform, one issue that has been left out is the issue of the right of the poor women to gain access to abortion services with the use of federal-funded insurance (Karen Tumulty 1).  In the past, the Hyde Amendment restricted the right of poor women from using Medicaid to pay for the abortion procedure.  A number of states followed the lead of the federal government but around 17 states did not ban use of state funds to cover for abortion services. 

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Whether the government-subsidized health insurance shall pay for the abortion procedure is an issue that is still unclear.  Despite the ruling by the Supreme Court in the case of Roe v. Wade declaring that the decision to undergo an abortion procedure is a privacy right, there is still no consensus on this issue.  While this debate is ongoing thousands of women who cannot afford to pay for abortion procedure are forced to go to physicians who practice this procedure clandestinely in fly-by-night clinics which often results in complications, serious injuries and even death.

Because of the importance of insurance coverage for poor women who want to undergo abortion procedure, I will lobby for its inclusion.  The first step will be to gather the people who share similar views as I am. This is not difficult as there are a number of pro-choice groups which share the same views as I am.  We shall gather statistics on the number of women who avail these services.  If possible, I will also get an estimate of the number of cases of pregnant women who undergo abortion procedures secretly or avail of these services from unlicensed practitioners, the number serious injuries, and even deaths resulting from these abortion procedures.  Letters will be sent to the lawmakers, informing them that thousands of women are forced to undergo abortion procedures from unlicensed practitioners because they are the only ones who provide cheap abortion procedures.  Lobbying will be an important tool in this campaign. (Dan Eggen 1)  If other companies are spending millions for lobbying, it may be possible to get a member of our organization to lobby to Congress so that our cause will be represented.

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Essay on Healthcare Reform - The United States Healthcare System

I. What does the article express about the current U.S. health reform proposals?

Anna Wilde Matthews states that there are currently three major bills being hotly debated in Congress.  These bills have the same objective which is to expand and make available to a greater number of Americans health insurance.  This will address the problem among almost 50 million Americans who currently do not have health insurances. (“Health Care Reforms a Must” 2)  For this reason, these bills have significant repercussions not only for the present generation of Americans but even for the succeeding generations. (“Enzi Delivers Weekly GOP Address, Focuses on Health Care Reform” 2)

However, the law has certain provisions which every consumer should be aware of.  First, it will impose more taxes for middle-income earners and above.  Second, while the government will subsidize a portion of the health insurance cost, the consumers are required to get health insurance. (Jeffrey Krasner 2)  Third, individuals who fail to buy insurance may be penalized under the laws.

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The article merely informs the public on the different aspects of the health reform proposals being debated in Congress.  It merely discusses the advantages and disadvantages of some of the provisions that are included in the proposed bills which every person may want to know.  It also makes a comparison of the different provisions of the law being proposed in the different committees in the Senate.  It does not take a stand whether the proposed bills are harmful or whether the proposed bills will be beneficial to the public.

II. What aspect of the current health care debate concerns you the most? Why?

I am mostly concerned with the proposal that under the bills everyone is required to buy health insurance.  The law also provides that those who fail to buy health insurance shall be fined by either $750 per person if his income is up to three times the poverty level or up to $950 if his income is more than three times the poverty level. 

I do not think it is just and fair for persons who could not afford to pay health insurance to be penalized for their financial hardships.  First, if the people could not afford to pay for their health insurance it only goes to show that the government is not doing its job of making health insurance available to the public. (Dr. Sanjit Bagchi 3)  It only shows that the government is not helping the public get decent jobs that can help pay for their health insurance.  It is therefore wrong for the government to pass the blame to the public and penalize the public for failing to do what the government is supposed to do for them.  Second, while every person would want to get health insurance there are certain circumstances where getting health insurance is not simply a matter of choice.  For instance, there are individuals who do not have a regular income.  These individuals would rather give priority to pay for their food, pay for their rent and bills.  Health insurance is the least of their priority.  Forcing these individuals to pay for the penalty for their failure to get will only make matters worse for them. 

I am also concerned with the $750 or $950 imposed for failure to get health insurance.  I find this penalty a tax even if President Obama does not consider this a tax increase. (Tom Blumer 2)  As a tax, I think there is a requirement on the number of votes among legislators for the bills to be pass into law otherwise the law becomes invalid.  I am concerned about this since I know for a fact that President Obama promised during the campaign that he will not raise taxes on the middle class or those who earn less than $250,000 a year. (Christopher Beam 3)

III. Do you prefer any of the health care systems in effect in other countries? Why?

I still believe that the United States health care system is the best all over the world.  The medicines are cheaper compared to other countries.  I just think that with the worldwide economic crisis everybody is having a hard time letting go of their money.  That is why there are concerns about getting health insurance and paying for it.  I believe that when the economic condition returns normal the expenses in paying for health insurances will not be too much of a burden for Americans.  Moreover, I think it is also important to iron out some of the provisions in the bills. 

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