Comment by DreamCrusher — December 18, 2007 @ 10:10 am

Exact text from the speech and subsequent Q&A session:

THE PRESIDENT: That’s good. I’m going to tell you something — we have fabulous health care in America, just so you know. I think it’s very important — before people start griping about the health care system here — and of course there’s always grounds for complaint — just to compare it with other systems around the world. And one of the reasons our system is expensive is because some of the new technologies that are coming online, they happen to be saving lives. And can we become more efficient deliverers of health care? You bet. Are there things we can do? Absolutely. But whatever we do, we don’t want to undermine the fact that we’ve got great health care. I’m very proud of our docs, nurses, researchers. There’s some just fabulous research going on in our country. To me that’s in our national interest that we spend money on medical research, so that we can stay on the leading edge of change.

As noted by TP, that was from a question asked by an audience member. Now, here is what he said earlier in the speech about health care:

Two other issues, and then I’ll answer some questions. One, I know if you’re a small business owner, you’re concerned about health care, and you should be. And the fundamental question facing the country is what can the government do to make health care more affordable and more available. And there’s a classic philosophical divide in Washington. On the one hand there are those who believe that government is the fix; that government can best decide the allocation of resources in health care. And then there are those of us who believe that we ought to push for more consumer — a consumer-driven health care system.

Part of the problem in health care is that there is no consumerism — I shouldn’t say “no consumerism,” obviously there is some consumerism. But when a third party pays your bill, you tend not to worry about price. If somebody else pays your bill, you’re not really an active consumer. And therefore the question is — part of the issue with price is, how do you encourage consumerism? And here’s one way: Change the tax code. The tax code now says if you work for corporate America — big company — you get a tax benefit. But if you’re a small business owner or you’re out on your own, you have to buy health care with after-tax dollars.

And therefore, there’s a disincentive for people to be purchasing health care on the individual market and, therefore, the individual market hasn’t grown. So I proposed to Congress that we allow families — everybody, regardless of your employment status — to be able to deduct $15,000 off your income taxes, or $7,500 as an individual — all aimed at level the playing field so that an individual market begins to grow. So step one to consumerism is for individuals to have more options in the marketplace so they can become involved directly in buying better insurance for their families.

Step two is for there to be transparency in pricing and quality, and the federal government can help. We’re a huge health care consumer. And one of the things that Secretary Leavitt is doing is saying that if you’re interfacing with the federal government, then you got to post your price. I don’t know how many of you ever go to your doctor and say, what are you charging, you know, compared to your neighbor. I suspect you do that when it comes an automobile, but you don’t when it comes to purchasing health care. I never have, frankly. I don’t remember asking my buddies in Midland, who are my doctors, how much are you charging relative to the person down the street.

So the government can help with pricing transparency. So we’re now getting people to providers to not only post a price, but also we’re developing a qualitative index, so that people are able to compare price and quality. Now, this is a novel concept, I readily concede. But if you’re interested in more consumerism, then there has to be transparency in the health care industry.

Third, there needs to be products like health savings accounts expanded. If you’re a small business owner, I strongly urge you to look at a health savings account for a way to help your employees or yourself save for everyday expenses — medical expenses on a tax-free basis, coupled with a catastrophic health plan. The whole purpose there is to give you more decision-making in your health care — with your health care, and portability.

Because one of the issues facing America, particularly if you’re a youngster, is can you take your health care plans with you. It turns out most young Americans have changed jobs, like, seven or eight times by the time they’re 35 years old. And the inability to carry a good health care plan with you — a plan that you own, a plan which the dollars inside your plan are earning tax-free — creates frustrations for people. This economy is changing. And therefore the health care industry needs to change with it and provide flexibility for our workers.

Fourth, small businesses ought to be allowed to pool risk across jurisdictional boundaries. Well, that means if you’re a restaurant owner here, you ought to be able to pool your employees with a restaurant owner in Texas, so that you can go into the market and buy insurance at the same discounts that larger companies get.

Fifth, health care needs to be better at incorporating information technologies. I suspect you’ll find some of your docs still writing files by hand. That’s a little antiquated these days. The trouble is, most doctors aren’t very good writers to begin with. (Laughter.) And so we’re using government leverage to help information technology take hold, so that there is higher productivity increases in health care, less inefficiency and waste. My dream is for all of us to have a medical electronics record within a decade. My only caveat is I want to make sure that your material is private, that nobody can access it; it’s your material alone. But nevertheless, it makes sense for all your medical records to be on a single chip so it’ll help take the inefficiencies out of health care and help keep the pressure off cost.

Finally, if you’re truly interested in making sure health care is available and affordable, then you need to join the outcry on these frivolous and junk lawsuits. There are too many lawsuits running too many doctors out of practice. We have an OB/GYN crisis in America — in some states — because junk lawsuits are making it impossible for people to practice their skills. And they get sick of it, and say, I’m out of here; I don’t want to practice anymore. And plus every time there’s a lawsuit, it drives up the cost of medicine. That means you have to pay more. Because why? Because many doctors practice defensive medicine. They say, well, if I’m fixing to get sued, I want to make sure I administer as many tests as possible, so that my practice and my techniques can stand up in a court of law, which runs up the cost of medicine.

Now, obviously there needs to be recourse for malpractice. Nobody wants to deny anybody their right to have a claim in the court of law. That’s one of the great things about America, is if you’ve got a claim, you ought to be able to take it to the court of law. But we can — and we can pass law that protects somebody’s right to go to the court of law and do something about these junk lawsuits. It’s tough. Boy, the trial lawyers are tough in Washington. In all due respect to the trial lawyers here, you’re very powerful politically. We got the bill out of the House of Representatives, time and time again it got blocked in the United States Senate.

So here’s a common sense way to move forward to help small businesses and individuals deal with health care costs. And that stands in contrast to those who really believe the federal government can run it better than the individual consumer. I’m not saying those are bad people who articulate that position, I’m just telling you I think it’s wrong for America.

The fact is that the Federal Government does run health care better than the individual consumer, ALL SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO IS LOOK AT THE STATISTICS . Second, his comment about “There’s some just fabulous research going on in our country. To me that’s in our national interest that we spend money on medical research, so that we can stay on the leading edge of change.” The FACT is BOTH of my heart devices that are currently keeping me alive were developed in GERMANY. LIKE OTHER HIGH TECH JOBS, WE HAVE OUTSOURCED OR SHIPPED OUR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT JOBS OVERSEAS.

Anyway, there is one area I do agree with (I mention so everyone knows that I am not intent on bashing everything). In answer to a Marine Vietnam veteran’s question about the troops are getting “the health care that they deserve”:

“I feel a particular sense of obligation to make sure that the man or woman I send into combat gets the very best care possible. I will tell you, sir, that the doctors and nurses providing our military health care are fabulous. And the health care these troops are getting is excellent — no ands, ifs, or buts about it.”

However, the FACTS show a different story, the administration has consistently tried to shaft the Veterans’ Affairs Department by grossly underestimating its budgetary needs. According to Rep. Chet Edwards, Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee; “Anyone willing to visit our VA hospitals would know that there are hiring freezes, delays in veterans getting doctor’s appointments and postponement of important medical equipment purchases because VA health-care funding has not kept up with veterans’ needs.”

So how is the quality of health care and health care coverage any different, either for us civilians or the veterans, the only people who are enjoying great (QUALITY) health care are…….?

The full story behind the scandal involves a misguided program to “reinvent government” through outsourcing, a company that botched the delivery of ice to victims of Hurricane Katrina and a giant hedge fund led by a former member of President Bush’s cabinet. The private sector has indirectly had a hand in converting the once legendary Walter Reed into a symbol of the shameful treatment of people who have been maimed in the service of their country.”

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/03/06/outsourcing_walter_reed.php

The American College of Physicians has endorsed the concept of a single-payer health care system for the first time. The ACP likely was influenced by the general deterioration of the U.S. health system, with its 47 million uninsured and decreasing affordability of health care, said David Dale, MD, the organization’s president. The 31-page paper, published Dec. 4 on the Annals of Internal Medicine Web site and in the Jan. 1, 2008, print issue, compares the U.S. health care system to systems in 12 other industrialized countries and offers eight major health reform recommendations based on that review. One proposal calls for adoption of a single-payer or pluralistic system, while the others tackle everything from electronic health records to physician training.

The doctors themselves have sided with Single Payer, every doctor I have spoken to over the past several years are in favor of a Single Payer system, and most agree it is only a matter of time before we have a Single Payer system. Call your representative and ask them to support HR676.

174. The Federal government has done a hell of a job with health care for vets for years, under both Republican and Democrat administrations. Sure, why not give them the power to screw it up for everyone, not just veterans?

Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 9:53 pm

What ??????? I don’t understand the contradiction here. They either are doing a hell of a good job or screwing it up, how can they do both?

175. What our health care system needs is protection from the predator trail lawyers like Edwards. That would save Billions a year.

Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 9:55 pm

Never heard of a trail lawyer, do they just follow something or someone, or just practice law on the Oregon Trail?

Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 9:55 pm

Our country needs protection from murderous sociopaths like Bush. That would save billions a WEEK.

Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 9:53 pm”

sorry, cHL, more lies from you. it was specifically republican administrations that cut veterans’ funding,

“What our health care system needs is protection from the predator trail lawyers like Edwards. That would save Billions a year.

Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 9:55 pm”

Yes, it would be much better for an American-hater like CHL if people maimed and killed by drunken doctors and greedy insurance companies didn’t get their day in court.

Comment by Charles James Napier

Charles to wife; “IT PUTS THE LOTION ON ITS SKIN!“

That’s obscene. How could the average American be against that?

What we DON’T have is an adequate health care delivery system. Our delivery system favors the rich and the healthy, and it woefully underserves the people just getting by, people with pre-existing conditions, children, and the people who need health care the most. It’s way too costly, with entirely too much money ending up in the pockets of corporate greedheads.

Our system of paying for health care has evolved into a system where employers pay for it. This creates huge holes for people to fall through when they become unemployed, and blatant catch-22s when people become too sick to work. Employers have to pay more and more to insure their employees, and to do this, they have to increase the cost of their goods and services, so we all pay.

Yes, Mr. President — we have excellent health care here in the United States. But for too many Americans, it’s out of reach.

Comment by Charles James Napier

This is idiotic at best. Who says that a universal healthcare system doesn’t pay for investigation, top notch one? Just an example, the initial phases of HIV study:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gallo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luc_Montagnier

Both researchers were tied in the run for the discovery of the HIV virus, they collaborated in equal terms, and finally agreed to share the honors for being the discoverers of the virus.

Robert Gallo is from the USA.
Luc Montagnier is from France.

And, without a doubt, the Pasteur Institute is one of the best research institutes of the world, including the USA:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasteur_Institute

BRW, it’s a NONPROFIT PRIVATE INSTITUTE. If this doesn’t makes implode the heads of the Repubbots reading the thread…

Hint, NONPROFIT doesn’t mean that researchers aren’t payed.

Hey, thanks to everyone. This has been a great discussion. Have a great night!

Must suck to be that ashamed of your party. I’m not always tickled with mine, but I’ve never tried passing myself off as anything other than a Democrat.