It is that time in the cycle when politics are front and center. Elections are coming up and this time around it is anything but boring. In this article, I want to talk about healthcare and how we as nurses can make the difference to insure Americans are covered.
We have recently lived through the great lie, “you can keep your doctor,” only to find out, not only do you lose your doctor but you have to pay more for it. Obama presented his 2000 page plan and announced, “if you want to know what is in it, you will have to pass it.”
I wonder if that line would work next time JCAHO comes around, “No need for our documentation, it you want to know what we have, just pass us and you can have them.” We all know that would never work in real life.
Why was it ok for one of the most intimate aspects of life? The argument was made that having “uninsured people” is a crime and the government run program would take care of it. Actually what ended up happening was, individual states expanded their Medicare and Medicaid programs, taking on debt they really can’t handle. Many of the healthcare exchanges were ineffective. Maryland and Oregon are 2 that come to mind that wasted millions in the startup and folded ultimately. Who is treating those patients now?
Who Are Treating “Uninsured” Patients?
There is still the same amount of people uninsured. They are just different people. One group of the newly uninsured are business owners who opt to pay the fine rather than buy insurance because they cannot afford the premiums.
In our local town, there is a privately run set of healthcare clinics that provide enormous services to the community. This is a great example of free market enterprise. In talking with them recently, I learned the fastest growing market for them are the middle class; people who lost insurance when their companies stopped paying premiums and they could not afford it. Now they go to the clinic and pay what they can. It might take months to get to see a healthcare professional and they may have to drive 40 minutes, but, they have healthcare.
The healthcare system is now so over burdened with regulations that it is turning off providers. A day will come when healthcare may be “free” with no one to actually provide it. Physicians and nurse practitioners are burning out and losing interest in the healthcare system.
If you are feeling the Bern, you may hear that everything is going to be paid by the “government” with single payor healthcare, college for everyone. The fine print in Sanders plan is the 90% tax rate. After all, someone has to actually pay for all that service.
Healthcare is a big issue. It represents a major portion of the economy and is something one cannot live without. As a nurse, I feel so fortunate to have the education and experience to know what is happening in my body and to be able to live a lifestyle that will support great health.
Donald Trump who is a front runner in this presidential race has gone back and forth about options. He believes healthcare needs to be provided to people. He most recently said, “we will work it out.” Not exactly policy, but he is not promising something that cannot be delivered. I like having an open door to discuss options.
What makes our country so different from the rest of the world and so great is our free market system. Can you really say the government has done anything you can claim is efficient? Look at Veteran’s Administration. Once the best and finest in healthcare delivery, is now racked with scandal and criminal behavior. The system became overwhelmed and due to bureaucracy, was too sluggish to upgrade and modify their services abandoning the very people they were charged with serving.
Providing Healthcare to EVERYONE
I have always thought nurses were the missing link in an efficient healthcare system. Nurses are practical, purposeful and the most trusted advocate for patients for over 14 years in a row. My vision for a great healthcare system that truly serves the people is a grass roots program based on free market principles and accountability in both the patient and the provider.
I have met so many nurses who have adopted natural solutions and can provide low cost, yet very efficient, effective relief that would save money. I recently talked with Marisela, a nurse practitioner who has set up a telehealth practice. Brilliant idea! I know another nurse, Nicole, who has put together a coalition of nurses to hold community health fairs.
I advocate for Health Savings account so that we can all control the direction in which we want to spend our healthcare dollars. In my Integrative Health practice, I was “approved” by health savings account as a provider and was able to support the individual’s choice in the type of service and treatment they ultimately wanted.
Don’t Just Guess – Know!
I suggest you learn about the candidates and ask questions, explore their positions. Then think about the problem and see what solutions you might come up with as a nurse and healthcare professional.
We are on the verge of national bankruptcy if diabesity is not confronted and Alzheimer’s not faced. Chronic illness is threatening individuals and the entire healthcare system. Since we are in a political cycle, I want to challenge all healthcare professionals to take charge of their own health and then look at ways we can be of service to communities.
What if the equipment companies sponsored a mobile health unit or a telehealth unit? What if nurses and physicians got together and set up community health clinics? Healthcare belongs in the hands of the men and women who are educated and dedicated to serve. Let’s do it!