Healthcare reform in America is extremely difficult due to entrenched ideas and entrenched powers that like the failing status quo. Many on the left scream for single payer as the only solution, but not surprisingly in this divided nation, nothing like that happens. So does one just keep singing the mantra that goes nowhere while many suffer, or do you try to work the system to get help to more and more as at least a temporary measure. Well, in walks PA's energetic and personable Governor Ed Rendell willing to commit himself and all his political capital to try and come up with a leading edge but doable reform plan for PA and then maybe elsewhere!!
Did you ever watch a politician tackle a major problem, and just by the force of their argument, by their commitment, and by the content of their materials, you just knew they were sincere in the effort. Well, I watched a town meeting that Ed Rendell had in Erie, PA last Wednesday to push his Cover all Pennsylvanians (CAP) reform plan, and I never saw such an exercise in commitment to getting something done in my life. Rendell would sign a single payer plan, but he says that single payer has to be done on a federal basis, and that it will not happen before 2016 at the earliest. He said that if the Repubs EVER win in Washington, the chances for health clinics on the moon will be greater than single payer passage in America!
I know the major problems with the healthcare system, and Rendell has truly hit or covered many of them in his plan. An assortment of his planned change efforts are:
--Get rid of demographic ratings in favor of community ratings
--No pre-condition denials allowed anymore
--at least 85% of insurance companies intake goes to provide care, or a 15% medical loss in insurance terms at the most
--Expand the scope of practice of all auxiliaries to allow them to use all their training (very important, IMO).
--Everyone can buy into the plan at rates set according to their income.
--All businesses have to provide care or pay a 3% tax to the fund.
--Health insurance rates have to be approved by the State Insurance commissioner
There is much more that can be seen in the above link, but Rendell is smart enough to know he cannot do it alone. The PA Legislature, like legislatures everywhere, is being lobbied hard to keep up the status quo and to use the usual conservative chamber of commerce type buzzwords to ignore any real changes. Because of that, Rendell is on his Tour to Insure to try and get grassroots support to force the legislature to make the necessary insurance changes and law changes to allow this plan to get a fair trial. I wish him well because by just listening to him, I know he is extremely committed to this, and he may be the only politician with the ability and clout and commitment to pull a big change off. Study the above links and remember to be realistic because this is still a badly divided nation! Finally, keep an eye on Rendell and PA in this healthcare reform arena because this powerful Governor is knowledgable and commited to this happening!!