A Private Sector Response to Health Care Reform

I have had several dozen responses to my recent blog: A 12-Point Program for Health Care Reform. It pleases me to say that almost all were positive and appealed to the readers's common sense. Since it was written, I've benefitted from many articles, broadcast reports, personal conversations. I also learned more about the thinking in Congress at a meeting of the Milwaukee Press Club, of which I am a member, featuring Rep. Gwen Moore (D), and Rep. Paul Ryan (R). Although miles apart on this issue, I was struck by how collegial these two members of Congress were to each other.

Since I began thinking about this issue several years ago, I never thought government control was the answer. I travel to Canada several times a year, and have never met a Canadian, liberal or conservative, who had anything good to say about their national health plan, or the outrageous taxes assessed to pay for it

I am still optimistic reforms must, can and will take place in the private sector. Have you ever seen the folks in "fly over country" so riled about any one issue before?

Congressman Ryan thinks there are many best practices in the private sector that need closer scrutiny and incorporation into our current reform efforts, and so do I. I agree with him that the Swiss model has merit and should be looked into more closely.

The first positive part of the Swiss plan is it is all private sector and covers 99% of the Swiss population, including the indigent. Second,
their system has good outcomes and is only 11% of the country's Gross National Product (GNP), as opposed to 17-18% or ours. Third, 87 private insurance comapnies compete for the Swiss to purchase their offerings. (Currentlywe have to purchase our insurance in the state where we reside, and often have a handful of offerings). They really keep a close eye on provider charges, and pressure them to reduce excesses in their systems. Quality of care is high, as well is patient satisfaction. Fourth, they top the profits of each health insurer at 5%. This eliminates many industry excesses.

Before we turn over our health care system to the same people who ran the "Cash for Clunkers" program so well, and who are on the verge of bankrupting Medicare and Medicaid, I think we need another push to have the private sector take the appropriate response, or we just may end up like Canada or England, hating our health care system.

Alan L. Gaudynski