Join the Discussion: Health Care

[mtoffle]

Basic health care (preventive, child,recovery, and emergency) for American citizens should be nonprofit and paid by taxes. Elective care could remain in the domain of the insurance companies. The problem will be in defining the difference.

[Jocke1776]

UHC is not compatible with individual rights and thus anti-American and immoral.

[fuzzymike2]

Until we all get the used to the idea that there is little or no health care in modern medicine nothing will change much. Modern medicine has focused on aetiology of illness, disease, pathology and there has been hardly any resources devoted to the aetiology of health. The nearest it gets to this is preventative medicine which is early diagnosis of pathologies and not promotion of health. One remarkable Pathologist did recognize this problem 50 yrs ago, Dr Scott Williamson, Peckham Experiment

[Yogurt721]

As a number of others have already stated, what we need is a universal single payer health care system. Anything else that continues to prop up the private health insurance companies, will be nothing more than the equivalent of putting a band aid over a festering wound. Most of those against it either don't truly understand what it is, or have the attitude "me me me, my my my, get your own". They don't understand that they are already paying for uninsured people in terms of higher health costs.

[bigfish20009]

Please make sure to pass Universal Health Care!! Obama should remember to keep his campaign promises and especially health care for all. If there is one thing that will ensure Obama's re-election and a long-term democratic majority rule, the passage of universal health care would be the surest way of doing it.

[HYDROGENCARS]

We spent a trillion dollars to help forgieners in the middle east, that kind of money begs the question why didn't we spend it on health care and our infostructure.

[Socinus]

I would like to see major steps taken towards Universal Healthcare. 65+ other countries have successfully implemented it and we can easily afford it now with what we currently spend per person per year on healthcare. Im tired of having to consider if I REALLY want to go to the hospital for an injury because I know we cant pay the massive bill that's going to come after it so personal health becomes a budget issue.

[davidnhvtme]

We need absolutely to have universal health care with no exclusions on pre existing conditions and some real cost containment. Health Insurance should NOT be contingent on having a job! Our privately run health insurance is a mess. So many different plans..how do you know what each covers? There is no way a government run plan could be any worse than what we have now. Lets roll right over those damn conservatives and do something for regular Americans for a change!

David

[writecomment]

make paying for healthcare easier and less complicated. people who don't want to deal with the sysetem and the costs let go their wealth to be on medicaid. what about it?

[writecomment]

Learn from other countries healthcare system, promotion and treatment. What about teaching doctors about different ethics in school?

[HughPrather]

I am impressed with your desire to implement more preventative care. Are you aware that Medicare will not pay for a PAP smear. Now there is a basic preventative care issue.

A Retired RN KP

[cjdaweasel]

It'd be nice to go to a doctor and concentrate on the illness rather than worrying "How much is this going to cost me?" Its sad that someone could die not because we don't have enough trained doctors, or that they live in a poor country, but because they just can't come up with the money.

[PatsBlog]

I think we first need to get the government out of health care. Whenever the government gets involved in anything the price goes up while quality goes down. The government cannot give anything to anyone without stealing it from someone else. Consider the difference in quality between public and private education, yet it generally costs less to educate a student in a private school. Competition and free enterprise keep costs down, not government control.

[evetejah5]

finally someone listents to the word of the people or so they say, but stil awsum!

[slenderlatina]

What I would like to change in the health care system is equal access to mental health care. Currently if you are living under the poverty line receiving mental health treatment is incredibly difficult. For example if you are poor and have depression one seeks out help and finds out the cost for therapy and medication is to much. One continues on with no treatment and that makes it difficult to get to work. No work no money.Poverty continues and everyone suffers.

[pnscubed]

I would like to add that it is important to promote disease and illness prevention; but in addition, it is also important to support medical advances that provide permanent solutions. For example, research to define the exact causes for different forms of ADD will yield the technology to pinpoint what form of ADD an individual has and the medication to treat that specific type of ADD permanently--by rebuilding the necessary equilibrium between hormones in the brain.

Also: Laws on junk food?

[pi3573]

like ome said, MANY other countries have a much better health system than we do.

i have alot of Canadian freinds and the stories are always the same.

the fact is that these careproviders have already been paid buy the Gov. so when they treat you the ONLY concern is the Hippocratic oath and YOUR well being.

whereas here the size of your wallet determines the lvl of care you get.

after a disability i became uninsurable.

no matter how much money or what plan i picked. DENIDED,DENIDED,DENIDED

[sonofnapalm]

In 1967, Returning troops were affected by strange illnesses. We worked in Doctors from the Veterans Administration to create CHELATED TYPE compounds for poison removal (gb laced heroin + other chemicals that was successful. Oral and IV chealtion plus biological antibiotics is highly effective treatment. AIDS was invented and developed as a weapon of war, a coverup of chemical warfare. Truth will save lives, let the real story of AIDS invention be known to all as treatment is needed for MILLIONS

[justsomebody77]

OMG... Obama is considering preventive healthcare? That's extra awesome! Eat that, giant evil pharmacies!

[jointhefkndots]

I completely agree with the preventative care approach. I lived in Australia for awhile and the government there is big on this. As of today, Australians have an overall longer life expectancy than Americans. I think we can learn a lot from our Aussie friends.

[FlynnLindley]

Here's a scary, true fact: The health care industry gave out 500 million dollars in Washington, D.C. last year. That's over one million dollars per Congress person and Senator. Write, folks, for God's sake write because it's the only input we have.

[FlynnLindley]

We hear we cannot afford univeral health care reform. The truth is, if all our citizens get care, the ONLY kind of health care we can afford is universal health care.

[RogerWilbur]

Currently, if you loose your job, you loose health care. Health care should be automatically calculated into the rent or mortgage payment. It should NEVER be used as a collective bargaining tool. No one should be excluded. Everyone pays, keeping rates affordable. Basic and preventive health services would be provided. No more pre-existing condition clause or non-paying emergency room patients.

Unlike socialized medicine, this is everyone paying for a privilege, similar to driving privileges.

[jodyforman]

Please think outside of the conventional medicine box and consider including health care methods that are not based on Western Scientific Medicine, for example: Chinese medicine, including acupuncture. There is now ample evidence in respected scientific journals documenting the effectiveness of acupuncture for a variety of illnesses, conditions and for pain of all types.

Acupuncture is very cheap to apply and professionals can be trained in under 4 years (but not less than 2).

[singerteacher]

United Healthcare gave William McGuire 1.6 billion dollars last year (I believe). We need community hospitals again, non-profit, like when I was a kid. Think about how many life-saving operations could have been given for that 1.6 billion!

[loss843]

the new stimulus package would be very helpful but i don"t understand why it don"t benefit people that owe the {IRS}taxes the stimulus checks don"t provide them economic relief i hope obama gets this message before it's too late i dont know how to contact him

[MentierD]

We really need to look into introducing market functions in our healthcare system. I like most people will go to a doctor and are never concerned with costs because we use a card. And, obviously our professionals sometimes prescribe us or charge us rediculous prices on services or for health care products.We need an incentive to save costs; we can learn to deal with this by having an incentive to purchase the best deals on services and lowest priced prescription drug services (pref. generics).

[MentierD]

I agree that we need to get rid of the third-party insurance companies. I am in favor of a system based on Singapores Healthcare system. This system is based on MAS's which are tax free, and deducted right out of your paycheck. Another idea would be to get rid of the state regulations that impose burdens on coverage. For instance, in Michigan private health insurance must cover services such as a chiropractor and accupuncture. We don't all use these services, yet we are forced to pay for them.

[banzaicat2]

Sorry, must add: am self-employed, uninsured, HAD insurance, premium doubled (I hit a birthday and also it just went up) & then I couldn't get a cheaper, even worse plan w/ same carrier b/c I'd actually 'used' my prev coverage for prescriptions (so considered preexisting, have had asthma since childhood). The system is overwhelming, daunting, and troubleshooting any medical problem almost impossible. Lack of healthcare has been hugely defining in my own life. Please help.

[banzaicat2]

We must break from view that 'poor' ppl don't have health ins. Many without coverage wouldn't self-identify as 'poor'--we work, pay bills and just can't afford a $200-$300+ mo premium +copays. Also, coverage shouldn't be tied to one's job; we all change jobs, meaning a lapse in coverage & reapplying and having preexisting conditions (or any coverage) disqualified. Never mentioned: damage to credit reports-fico #s when medic. bills go to collection, =higher interest, inability to buy or rent.

[reefermadnesss]

I live in Canada and read an interesting article about the cost of health care around the world. I remember Canada was spending about $3000per citizen and the US was about double, at $6000per. That is what happens when Corporations must make a profit and you turn peoples health into a Business. The United States is the only Developed Country with-out socialized medicine of some sort. Get rid of the craziness@!

[funnel101]

Here's my question: how do you focus on prevention WITHOUT penalizing those who have health problems already? How does focusing on prevention not encourage well people to assume those who are sick deserve it in some way because they didn't succeed in "prevention"?

Any health care system needs to encourage people to live healthier lives, period. NOT just prevention, but live healthier, regardless of current health status.

[EvilEmpireToday]

did you know barack obama's ears are acoustically perfect, allowing him to hear thoughts? this is because his diet of styrofoam packing peanuts is converted by his mysterious metabolism into a previously undiscovered organic compound dubbed 'the change molecule' that facilitates his numerous human abnormalities, including telepathy, ultraviolet vision, and glucose (yes, GLUCOSE) intolerance.

[kroozzer66]

Prohibit insurance companies from excluding people with preexisting conditions. Perhaps expanding medicare to cover people in their 50's or younger. Medicare automatically covers people with problems. We need help!!!

[kroozzer66]

One of the largest problems with the healthcare/insurance system are preexisting conditions. The insurance companies do not the people that have problems. What good is healthcare if not to cover problems affordably and that's if they will even cover an existing condition. Expand medicare to people in their 50's or younger. There are many people with preexisting conditions that are not covered and it is much worse with private insurance. HELP!! We need a new system!!

[kroozzer66]

The healthcare insurance problem that affects so many people including myself are preexisting conditions. Especially if one can only ce companies do not want people with problems. What is the purpose of health care if not to help existing conditions?

Also as a person get older before medicare the insurance rates are prohibitably high! Very hard to afford for someone on fixed income. Perhaps to expand medicare to people in their 50's or younger. Single payer would be very good too!! HELP

[humanman1963]

The only way to fix this system is to out compete the insurance companies by offering coverage that is better and cheaper. The only way to do this is to Cut The Fat out of Healthcare. Half of every Dollar spent today goes toward, Medical billing costs, Record keeping cost, Administrative fees, Malpractice insurance. Cut these cost out by eliminating the need for them. Unified automatic billing, electronic records, fire the suits, and limit liability, bring criminal prosecution for bad lapses.

[jerel42]

I really believe we do need a paradigm shift, one where we get the insurance companies out of health care. We should use one of the single-payer models, they generally work very well as anyone who does even a little research will see. All Americans can be provided for, cradle to grave, at high quality, for far less cost than it costs us now!

[pnscubed]

The statement, "As anyone who does even a little research will see," shows bias, and no real research is provided here to back the claim.

But I agree that "all Americans can be provided [health care] for far less [money] than it costs us now!"

[Dasea4me2]

I believe we need to look at other countries that provide health care to all its citizens. It is a sad situation, that the USA is so far behind in providing health care to all. The USA needs to re-evaluate the billions of dollars that we send to other nations/countries. WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN FIRST,then provide for others.

[Joanlwood]

1. Create a wellness system NOT one based on disease & injuries to include: body- mind -spirit wellness.

2. Train more advanced nurse practitioners,& physician assistants. Reduce need for MDs.

3. Mandate use electronic medical records.

4. Avoid creating a universal health care sytem whereby everyone gets free health care by the government.

5. Use incentives to stay well and reimburse for such.

[jointhefkndots]

'4. Avoid creating a universal health care sytem whereby everyone gets free health care by the government.'

Care to explain why?

[thebaron512]

These doctors and nurses paid large sums of money to earn their degrees and work long hard hours at their job and they should be paid well for their work. They must continue their education as well or else lose their job. The Hospital is the problem and EVERYONE has access to care, but not everyone has the means to pay for their care without going into debt. The Hospitals and Insurance companies drive our medical costs, but our Government is a huge reason that we have high cost as well.

[fwhamill]

The government should nationalize the insurance companies and the pharma companies. Doctors are greedy trogodites. Insurance companies are robber barons and pharmaceutical companies are animal torturers whose use of non-human experiments causes great hearm to humans. They don't seem to realize that rats and humans are different animals.

[MaryPeaceFinley]

Let's initiate a "10,000 Steps Program" to encourage every able citizen to walk 10,000 steps daily. "10,000 Steps" would BE "preventive medicine," lead to better health, and help reduce dependency on cars and public transportation. Enticements, rewards, and publicity could be designed for motivation and for building a spirit of "We're doing this together."

[susan23tt]

The United States needs doctors that are responsible, capable and good. You should not have to be concerned about going to a doctor that doesn't know what he/she is doing! I have lost 2 family members to doctors that are incapable and incompetent, this is what is wrong with out health care system. We need to make it easier for the doctors to be paid for their services when rendered competently and correctly. We need to make it easier for people to get insurance earlier in life. Thanks!

[loss843]

stimulus checks for people that owe back taxes too they need a economic lift has well

[santasxgirlfriend]

The tobacco industry is costing us lives and money! The cancers and illness caused by tobacco are a serious problem.

[jdawgizzleshizzle]

haha well if you want a solution to that look up north eh? in Canada our tobacco industry has collapsed and we're hoping the trickle down effect to our health care system is eased shortly.

[fwhamill]

Lets add to that the meat industry. The raising and slaughtering and distribution of non human animals for food causes as much or more damage to human health and environmental damage as any other industry on earth.

[gemini067]

Nobama said he had no "LOBBYISTS" working for him, Daschle is a lobbyist as is his wife, he also has been named as possible secretary of health, the group for which he lobbied.

[kerasea]

gemini, what a great point you made. It really made a huge contribution to the health care issues being discussed in this forum. I just wish we had more geniuses like you.

[blkankh]

I'd like to see some consideration of the idea of removing the profit motive entirely from health care. If it is important enough that some public services are treated that way - like the police and fire functions for example - then why not something as fundamental to the quest for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as access to quality health care? I'm just not sure that maximizing profit and delivering quality, affordable health care to all Americans are concepts that can coexist.

[omegajbmb]

Australia, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, The United Kingdom and even crapy France has free health care....idk why we call america the best country in the world

[Muleskinner1776]

The health care problem is solved easily by growing our bodies to be illness free,by way of genetic engineering.This removes any chance of defect,insures the mothers health,and cloned orgens and idems could be manufactuerd as needed.We could go one step further,improving upon the human design,why wait for evolution?

[voyeurdug]

The military can be used as a training ground for medical paraprofessionals. Anyone who's been through a military-style training regime can attest: they can train up just about anyone to do just about any job... up to a skilled apprentice level... in about 12 weeks.

Training is one of our military's greatest strengths that's unaffected by the last 40 years of draw-down.

In this economy, a military career is looking better to more young people.

Look at the problem as an opportunity and voila!

[jdkendall1]

Finally, a credible opportunity to be heard! Thanks. Integrate computer access by any health care provider to reduce the cost entailed by pervasive, and massive, duplicated health records. There should be ONE record for each SSN which can be viewed by any medical provider for background on any patient whether concious, or unconcius anywhere in the World. Access can be protected by Password given to qualified doctors, and designated members of staff.

[TheWayISeeIt1982]

There should be no profit involved with healthcare. Healthcare is a right, we need to get these insurance companies out of the equation.

[pi3573]

im sorry i was trying to empart my story of a failed american medical and how ive slipped through the cracks!

i am a little disappointed that the matter which is my life(which is my life)was not posted. ill never walk right again for the rest of my life and maybe you guys dont think thats important like i do but....this is the reason that i voted and help the party evry way i could! these are the stories that make a difference to ppl. so plz the medical system has failed me. let me speak

[santhoshjoy]

hello Tom Dash, Pl. post one video every quarter about the progress of your work and we will Judge your Dept's acheivement in 4 years. Hopefully we won't be in the same spot where we are now !!

[sr08kdd260]

I think people could get better healthcare if we would utilize nurses, social workers, and all non-doctor professionals to provide most office visit procedures, and focus on preventive care. This would definitely reduce insurance re-imbursement issues and lower the cost of insurance for us. SER a psychotherapist

[tiger2lili]

Excuse Me,where is my data-comment about Childhood cancer??? Tom's "nice glasses" comment is ok but fighting and research funding Childhood cancer Is not???

[goodinohio]

Government pays for something, all the thieves rush in for government money. Price goes up, we can't afford to see a doctor.

Government caused the problem, government will fix it by making it worse. The crisis is government f'ing up everything it touches.

Please don't help us anymore.

[suew0]

I hope that our health care policies wil be based on sound scientific research, rather than dubious or untestable therapies.

[Scoppertop]

We want health CARE, not insurance. Eliminating the middleman is how to fix the system.

[billykeane]

If you want to drive a car in America you are required to have car accident insurance. Everybody pays their share and the system works. Health insurance however, is too expensive because those who are lucky enough to have insurance are paying for the people that get healthcare but are not paying their share because they lost their job and company paid health insurance.

[billykeane]

If you want to drive a car in America you are required to have car accident insurance. Everybody pays their share and the system works. Health insurance however, is too expensive because those who are lucky enough to have insurance are paying for the people that get healthcare but are not paying their share because they lost their job and company paid health insurance.

[thoughtchallenge]

All people really need is a voucher that gets them 2/3 of the way to a basic health care plan. When I had health insurance years ago, I kept getting the feeling that the doctor had the insurance company looking over his shoulder. Stop the micromanaging.

[okturus]

you guys are stalling the american people

[pipkinsdb]

2007 HHS budget was $698 billion

$383 billion went to Medicare.

(55% of the overall budget)

Fix that!

[bertly71]

I am dubious of a government that cannot control it's own costs talking about controlling cost in the health care arena. Whatever happened to "Lead By Example"? My Wife has been in the business of health care for years and would like to see less government involvement. The government mandates, run up costs and increase paperwork. If you want to see government healthcare, visit a Vets hospital. It is scary.

[LernaTechGrad]

US medical schools limit the number of students.Its not enough to be smart & have a burning desire to become a doctor.You need to contribute tens of thousands of dollars before being admitted. I know of one such instance and was told by an aquaintance that he knew of someone denied for lack of $20K donation to a state university. We need to build more medical schools to increase the number of physicians and thereby control physician salaries. We need to eliminate the contributions as well.

[friedabla]

Universal single payer health care would be a brilliant option for the United States, but private institutions could also play a role for those who prefer that option.

[elganso999]

One of the most troublesome things I've experienced is the price difference between insurance-negotiated rates vs. cash-only rates at hospitals (or doctors/pharmacies). It is a vicious circle: in order to get better insurance rates hospitals need to jack up prices. The uninsured are the one who gets hurt by this artificial pricing - they can only pay cash. I would like a government mandate that made sure any uninsured person could pay the lowest negotiated insurance rate for a given procedure.

[dtaijo174]

You can't control the cost, the market does. If you use price fixing you will only cause shortages. This is the reason communism failed. Why do we revisit failed ideas?

[MarquisdeBarrabas]

" If you use price fixing you will only cause shortages."

France's healthcare system relies on price caps on treatment administered by private practitioners yet there is no shortage of physicians nor will you have any problems making an appointment with a doctor, as I have found out personally.

Once again, reality seems to have a liberal bias.

[SenorZorro2000]

I love this man's glasses. 8D

[riverbilly224]

I am a business owner and I want single payer universal health care coverage. Why? Because I pay property taxes to educate my community's children and I want them healthy and at school learning. I want my employees to be focused on working and not taking off for chronically sick kids or for themselves. A healthy nation is a productive nation and a productive nation, well, it beats the pants off the global competition.

[98nafets]

The universalcare systems would also bring such great turmoil. In Britian, there are up to 900000 people waiting to get into a hospital at any point in time. In Sweeden, people have to wait up to 25 weeks for hear surgery and up to a year for hip replacement. My own uncle, who was in his early 50s, died from a pretty simple disease in a hospital in Vancouver, Canada. And guess what, those countries live much healtheir lifestyles and have much fewer people than the United States.

[98nafets]

Next time you pass by a smoker, ask yourself, should I be responsible for his bills when he develops lung cancer, or when you pass by a McDonalds, should I be forced to help aid people who stuffed their faces with fries instead of exercising. The vast majority of health problems in this country are the result of such bad choices.

[AzzholesAnonymous]

Billions are already being wasted on ineffective and outdated religion based substance abuse treatment.

Making options for more effective alternatives available could greatly reduce cost due to lower relapse rates and less need for inpatient care while also helping treat underlying psycho-social problems instead of throwing dogma at it.

[Rho48]

I was watching the news last night and they reported a story on President Bush allowing doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals, etc.. to refuse treatment based on their religious beliefs. This law made by President Bush should be turned around by the democratic Congress for President elect Obama to sign not to allow this type of practice. A doctor or healthcare professional should not use their religious beliefs in their practice of treating patients needing healthcare.

[zbjordan23]

I agree...imagine an ER physician who refuses to do blood transfusions for religious reasons and may end up killing patient because they wont do it in an emergency situation. Abortion I can understand...but to extend that to ALL medical procedures is malpractice.

[grafight]

I guess my comment wasn't approved, so I'll try again: We are deep in debt because of medical bills. My wife gets no health insurance even though she works practically full time at an elementary school, and we own a home we can sell. On paper we make just barely too much to get help, yet we can hardly make the minimum payments and interest on debt grows faster than what we can pay. When my wife gets sick, it costs us thousands. Are we doomed to bankruptcy?

[rulizbob]

Are you considering universal single payer health care, like the rest of the civilized world ?

[rajulbhai]

Government must try and bring down the cost of medical treatment. The biggest amount doctors andd hospitals are spending is on malpractice insurance. If these claims have limitations for claims many things will automatically resolved.

[808hannsz]

Ya, Why don't you let those hard working college students who are paying inflated prices to go to college donate there free time when they are not working or studying, to give free medical care. Then when they get out done with college they will be used to working for free, and they can start paying off the debits for there college and the huge ax debits for the mistakes of there parents.. . That will solve the health care problems. . . . Brilitant!

[JohnAMcGrew]

Cost containment? The new $621-million visitor center at the capitol just opened at $550-million (almost 90%) over budget. And people actually think that these clowns are going to make health care cheaper? What kind of expensive drugs can we use to fix that sort of delusional mental disorder?

[Fringe111]

I myself am not opposed to nationalizing health care. We live sicker and die younger then any other western country. Some doctors in my area are now turning away people with medicare. What's next?

[charlessmyth]

The CIA World Fact Book would refute that claim. Even Bangladeshis live until their mid sixties, so it is incredible to believe that Americans live insignificantly longer. Statistics do support such a claim with regard to some of the Native American Indian populations: Lacota, for example. You absolutely do not want a national healthcare system. It will bankrupt the country, as France has discovered.

[CetraTJ]

France isnt bankrupt...

[charlessmyth]

Americans are not being prevented from training to be doctors and healthcare providers so that they can offer better priced services. But if they demand that government limits the choice of healthcare provision and legislates the price, quality and quantity, as a way to price fix wages, this will not be possible, as the current unaffordable regime clearly demonstrates. A significant contribution towards prevention would simply be for Americans to not eat towards obesity.

[Boomer1949]

Take the insurance co. out the the equation. That is the cost we can't afford, not the treatments. If Doctors and hospitals didn't have to carry insurance on everything, how much less would the cost be? Insurance is a scam and should be stopped.

[chairde]

Why don't you issue health care for the family instead of one for the husband and one for the wife. It would be redundant to have two policies for each family when one would cover. You don't need a program for the man and woman but just one for the family.

[bluestems]

I'm impressed that Obama is already engaging committees/task forces to discuss the major issues. Nice to see opportunities for everyday Americans to contribute as well.

[PrinceMGK]

Tom Daschle's glasses = Win.

[bciccarelli]

I am a registered nurse.Preventive care was much more a part of our health care twenty-thirty years ago than it is today. You can't give prerventive care in a 15 minute doctor visit. perhaps we could use nurses and othere health professionals in a morer effective way in this regard.

[MountOlivet]

How are we going to pay for all this stuff? Our taxes are going have to go up to provide universal health care but not everyones taxes will go up. The rich are the ones who will be paying for all of this. I hope that Obama doesn't go back on his campaign promises that 95% of the American people would see no tax increase. A massive tax increase on the average American would hurt the economy.

[spencerdev91]

I think we should invest more in alternative treatments like herbal supplements. In Germany they use St. John's Wort (higher quality versions) for depression and its used more than pharmaceutical antidepressants. I think using effective herbs could obviously decrease prescription costs.

[vikki628]

Is there anything in place where people working in the medical field would keep their education up and to par for the best treatments in patient care?

[johnsun102]

If you have been travelling abroad for more than two weeks, the first thing you noticed upon your return to the U.S. is the difference in the food you take. Besides to have more healthy citizens, the medical expenses can be minimized significantly if we can start to set up "Useful Standards" as soon as possible.

[NICHOLASMELLA]

I actually do appreciate this website,and that I and many others hve been heard.Let's wait and see if there will be a change,FOR BETTER...!!Paula Mella,CA

[jeaneleone]

Prevention is the best plan for our health. I am 85 yrs. old, exercise 4hrs. a week in water aerobics, walk our dog twice a day, take food supplements and lead a very active painless life.

Jeane Jaime

Please keep me posted on upcoming issues.

Thank you.

Jeane Jaime

[homeyhomegirl]

It's great that we are being asked for opinions and ideas. I love the openness.

[leonecisne]

Dear Senator Dascle & Erin:

Thanks! Good ideas: prevention, health corps, cost issues. Many issues are covered in SICKO, so please study it, if you can. (I use it in my college classes to help analyze issues related to materialism & resulting social problems). I'd like the health corps to include partnering of educators w. medical teams. Teachers are good w. motivating, communicating, helping folks change behavior, all w. less technical language! We need bilingual teams, too.

B.L. in CA

[ChaosBarnaby]

We need to also look into the cost of prescription drugs. The pharmaceutical companies are holding this nation hostage. Their power needs to be checked. Profit is being put before the care of human beings.

paula

[dewill42]

Thanks for your summary...all good ones. Is anyone looking at ways to by-pass profit-making insurance companies (e.g. using non-profits, quasi-government or hybrid private organization to do the same thing); shorten the time pharmaceutical companies can charge exhorbitant prices for new meds; modify coverage based on lifestyle choices (e.g., smokers and morbidly obese); deal with end-of-life issues which account for a very high percentage of medical costs?

[CaptainBudgie]

A couple of thoughts: 1. Prevention is great, as long as we don't penalize people for getting sick. We don't need the health police blaming people for having health problems. 2. We need to examine what kind of health care we can afford and the costs vs. benefits of treatments. E.g. are we spending lots of money at end-of-life on treatment when perhaps it's better to focus on keeping someone comfortable? I fear too much medical treatment if I'm going to die anyway. I'd rather be kept comfortable.

[jortizz]

Mr. Daschle if you TRULY want to control costs then you should work to eliminate health insurance as a requirement for employers.

Having a third party (insurance companies) get in the way of a patient and a doctor is THE reason why health care costs so much. Eliminate Medicare/Medicaid while you're at it.

Once that is gone people will be able to visit their doctors and pay directly in cash. You will see costs drop off a cliff and people would be able to afford it once again.

[scipio2009]

I don't know about you, but I can't fathom too money people who are sitting on $5,000, just waiting to spend it on their next hospital visit.

You may have that money set aside, but most of the country doesn't.

[sonofnapalm]

I really like the video! Let the truth be known! El Segundo Police Department, the finest police force in the world. NSA. Thank you both, together we can bring abou a peacful world. RESPECT TO ALL LIFE.

[sonofnapalm]

Respectfully, you two are great! The cure for AIDS was developed first starting in approx 1968. A combination of Chelation and Biological Antibiotics is highly efffective for prevention, In use by Law Enforcment currently NSA AGENT, Doctorate Emeritus.

[foresam]

Are you going to start telling the truth about how vaccines cause autism?

Will you tell the public how to cure autism, please?

[CindyPDX]

Foresam, my family understands your comment all to well. The damage has been done and now they (insurance companies) will only offer Ritalin as a solution rather than offering our twin son much needed therapy. I do know that Daschle does really care about Autism and more, and very glad to see Obama selected him for this job.

[cwoodups]

Tom Daschle 2012

Salary Caps , if I know what med's I need why do I have to see a doctor for a prescription.

[MattressGallery]

UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL. You need to accomplish at least the first steps to implementing a single-payer health care system by the end of your first term, Mr. President elect.

If Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada can do it, why can't we?

Privatized health care is not only much more expensive than single-payer health care, but produces inferior results.

[KB01886]

Why didn't the video address Obama's campaign dictum that "all uninsured Americans will be able to enroll in the same medical plan that Congress has."

[gerarennie]

Preventive medicine is the way of the future but to do this the pharmaceutical companies will have to have less power. For our physicians to continue to prescribe all of these medications which all have side effects without doing blood test to see what the body is deficient in is downright appaling.

[judecancer]

i am glad they will be focuing on prevention. if i am not able to get help through the medicare rx donut hole this year i may go blind which may mean going from independence to going to needing 24 hour care. i am already physicall7 disabled.

[d2tminc]

How about an itemized health care a list of cost of treatments in the doctors office? So that we can make cost effective treatments.

[billy7269]

i own my own business and pay my health insrance through the business and empire blue cross just raised my premium $114.... i just need to know what jurisdiction do the have to raise my premium by 20%.... are they giving me better servic or more dr.'s to see or lower my copay or are they just btrying to rob me for the increse.... a 2% increse is justifyable not a 20%

[sanjuanbrothas]

The horrific reality of healthcare is that healthcare is a business and therefore there is no financial future in preventative medicine. This scam runs rampart thru health insurance, car insurance, home insurance. I applaude the ideas which the Obama team strives for but %$^# corporate american makes the ideals of democracy shameful!

[coachkemp34]

Nice glasses Tom.

[Willssb]

Healthcore is a great idea!We need affordable healthcare in this country.

[GOTZEUSIPRODUCTIONS]

We NEED an Undefined CHANGE....

[ANTHONYTYME]

obama team is so deep..i luv it********

[gary333snow]

I'm a middle aged professional who makes a good salary and can afford health care, but affordability is not my issue. It's the fact that I am a consultant, i.e., a 1099 worker, and so am not part of a conglomerate group of people that can subscribe to an HMO. I am overweight, have diabetes and have undergone weight loss surgery (which greatly reduced my weight and diabetic issues), but I don't qualify for health care because of these "extreme issues"! Unless...I join a company!

[stevebeliz]

Thank you so much for including the American people in your plan of action. I have just finished reading "Healthcare Guaranteed" by Ezekiel Emanuel, M.D., Ph.D. It gives some great ideas about how to provide healthcare for every American.

[ThermalAZ]

Just don't forgot those of us who are self-employed with pre-existing medical conditions that can't even get help insurance. Insurance companies seem to only want to insure healthy people or insure those within a large corporate environment.

[scipio2009]

That all goes back the question of risk/return for the insurance companies.

By fixing the information systems, along with having a single government entity helping to cover those who don't have access to insurance, you eventually cut down the overall costs for the entire insurance business, allowing them to take more risks on those they want to cover, hopefully getting you under the umbrella.

[Terrybuchan]

I love the idea of a Health Corp!

[friendlyoreo]

How far would they go to keep us well for our own good? I mean would there be mandatory diet restrictions or mandatory exercise? I don't think I want someone telling me how to be healthy. :-\

[kmarshstpete]

I have no ideas for overall health plans, Luckily I get VA medical coverage, its not perfect but at least its something. I do have one specific issue, HIVAIDS, this has got to be addressed on a more practical level.

[Hecate1942]

We must regulate the drug companies so that their research is accurate. Products such as levofloxacin should not be used when severe side effects are known to occur. Several people in my area are suffering from tendon distruction from taking this antibiotic.

[Hecate1942]

I think there should be better regulation of the drug companies and the research they do. I am suffering from a very weak right arm due to taking levofloxacin proscribed by my physician. They say it is rare, but there have been several people afflicted in this area with the same problem - tendon distruction in the arms and other joints.

[joycesnyder]

The video was a good idea. A better idea is to lay out several options for a new healthcare system that incorporates some of the best ideas and to go about implementing them into a proposal that can be put into policy by 2010.

Ballet03

[inthefablane]

My biggest concern is for young people, like my daughters, who were covered up until age 22 by my health plan but unable to find employment and are therefore at a tenuous stage, not covered at all. One of them was hospitalized recently, Now she is left with $3,000 in hospital bills, and subsequently will start her adult life with a bad credit report. Please remedy this "catch 22" situation. Thank you, KYL

[juliact]

An overseas perspective: it seems like an amazing distortion of the relationship to make employers responsible for the health care of employees. Have you ever thought how much your economy would be freed up if employers did not have this responsibility? I understand that it is a monumental task to go from one entrenched system to another, but I believe your country, which CAN afford it, should start to make the move. Also, there should be no room in health care for blame the victim.

[scipio2009]

The only problem with a universal health care system, in the US anyway, is that it creates an image of the old, "mile-long" Soviet ration lines, an image that most Americans don't see as a positive one.

Personally, I feel the current system is a solid foundation; it's just that it costs too much and a lot of people are still not covered.

Solution: find a way to cover the people, who aren't covered, and then cut costs by improving the information systems, eliminating the constant re-tests.

[scipio2009]

Not sure how prevalent this is around the country, but a short while ago, I heard about a program, I believe situated in California, that would provide health coverage to all people, under the age of 18, who didn't already have coverage. A novel idea, if I do say so myself.

And in addition, from a friend of mine heading into medicine, one of the major costs associated to health coverage, is the constant need to repeat every test.

Fix the info system, and you cut this down, too.

Helps everyone

[turbogrammy]

i am glad to see that they are trying to connect on a gress roots level.

a health corps is na interesting idea, but i am not sure how nor how soon it could be implemented.

[SweetOldBob]

We need to choose a health care plan for the nation like would choose a health care plan for our family.

- proven quality

- cover everybody and all conditions

- allow provider choice

- cost-effective

- patient health care driven vs. profit driven

- health oriented vs disease oriented

Single payer health care as provided in Canada, the UK, France, Germany, the Scandinavian countries and elsewhere meets all these criteria. This is my first choice for a health insurance plan for American family.

[krsplsh]

well, we already have this in the US. proven quality? check. cover everybody? check, emergency services! allow provider choice? no, we can't have all providers choice of who to treat or not. cost-effective? yes, but the healthcare industry is not dictating the prices, the insurance companies are! patient vs profit? EVERY business is driven by profit! even "not-for-profit" business has to make a profit! health vs disease? obviously health is what we all should strive for!

[derekbreid]

Thanks for being on the ball with this! There's going to have to be a comprehensive solution, mandates alone aren't going to be enough; as most people who lack health care are constrained by costs, not by a lack of desire for it...especially the self employed. An effective single payer solution would be ideal, if it's in fact politically feasible.

[98nafets]

Healthcare definetly needs reform, but America cannot go to a government run system. Such a system is fundamentally unfair. Healthy, responsible people should not be forced to pay for the coverage of lung cancer for smokers, diabetes for the obese, STD's for the promiscuos, etc. The vast majority of health problems in this country are the result of poor lifestyle choices, and in America, you are respnsible for your own health.

[Lolagranola5]

I see what you are saying, however, even under private insurance you are paying for someone else's bad life choices. That is how they set the rates. It's the same as with car insurance...they use statistics to come up w. your premiums.

[MarquisdeBarrabas]

Excellent point, Lolagranola!

[flpete]

hello 98nafets: why not try a national healthcare program. the system is unfair now, unless you & business's can afford health ins. you and all insured pay for indigent care, obese, smokers now. a national system would make everyone pay. those with higher risks should pay more but we'd all be covered. dont you want that ?

[friendlyoreo]

Very well put! Kudos to you!

[myWORLDizDIGITAL]

yes, do keep VERY OPEN. we believe in the new administration, don't let us down.

regards,

XEM

myWORLDizDIGITAL

[Rho48]

In the south, healthcare is the worst. Many patients are forced to go to hospice, who are wanting to live and have hope. They are forced to go to hospice if they are terminally ill or otherwise their medication will not be paid for by Medicare or Medicaid. Today's healthcare is lacking quality. Your healthcare is based on who you are, how much money you have in your pockets, how much insurance you carry, and if you can afford it.

[ponchocam]

A healthcore is an excellent idea.

[mattincinci]

flawless video... love the wide screen look!

my prior comments on the topic were censored