Today I am amazed at an enthusiastic article about the Affordable Care Act by Eugene Robinson from Tallahassee.com.
His unbridled enthusiasm in the face of many difficulties that have nothing to do with health care exemplifies those who designed this law and passed it without reading it.
Here are some of his unsubtantiated claims and perhaps 'wishful thinking'
Eugene Robinson: Washington Post
"Now that the fight over Obamacare is history, perhaps everyone can finally focus on making the program work the way it was designed. Or, preferably, better.
The fight is history, you realize. Done. Finito. Yesterday’s news.
Any existential threat to the Affordable Care Act ended with the popping of champagne corks as the new year arrived. That was when an estimated 6 million uninsured Americans received coverage through expanded Medicaid eligibility or the federal and state health insurance exchanges. Obamacare is now a fait accompli; nobody is going to take this coverage away."
1. The fight is not history, we are barely through round one and all the points go to the opponents of the ACA.
2. Six million Americans have not received coverage from the ACA. Registering is only the first step. It took me over ten hours of fumbling on the web site, and on hold via telephone. How many will be able to pay premiums by deadlines, or negotiate the difficult process of acquiring a provider.
"There may be more huffing, puffing and symbolic attempts at repeal by Republicans in Congress. There may be continued resistance and sabotage by Republican governors and GOP-controlled state legislatures. But the whole context has changed."
The upside of the ACA is that all previously uninsurable patients now are enrolled no matter what pre-existing condition they have A+++++.
Can the ACA be improved? Most definitely. The argument should not be Republican against Democrat. Political party does not immunize one against illness.
I wholly agree with Mr. Robinson's analysis regarding the eventual goal of a uniform health system. To call it universal care is a misnomer.
"The real problem with the ACA, and let’s be honest, is that it doesn’t go far enough. The decision to work within the existing framework of private, for-profit insurance companies meant building a tremendously complicated new system that still doesn’t quite get the job done: Even if all the states were fully participating, only about 30 million of the 48 million uninsured would be covered.
Yes Obamacare does not go far enough, however that is not the principle flaw. There is no one principle flaw, if there are any that is the poor analysis and proposed implementation of a major expenditure that will effect most businesses, all patients, and our national budget, and come up short. If we are intent, committed and dedicated to these goals then let's get it right (or mostly right the first time)
Obamacare does establish the principle that health care is a right, not a privilege — and that this is true not just for children, the elderly and the poor but for all Americans.
Throughout the nation’s history, it has taken long, hard work to win universal recognition of what we consider our basic rights
This is a political and philosophical statement, not about health care. We need to keep these issues separate. I agree with him about the tenet that all people should have health care financing.
Our first step should be to put on hold further mandates while the act is re-evaluated. Repeal is not an option, however amendment is a reality and not an 'existential' argument.
Mr Robinson's article is not objective, nor unbiased. He totally neglects the weaknesses of the law which will require amendments. Placing the issue in terms of a 'battle' between political parties does disservice to dedicated professionals who have been in the system, and who were neglected during the planning process.
To ignored the flaws would be a fatal mistake, health care costs will soar and there will still be large gaps in the insured population
Contact Eugene Robinson ateugenerobinson@washpost.com.
Contact Gary Levin MD at gmlevinmd@digitalhealthspace.com
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