Last week marked 6 months on the job for President Obama and the 111th Congress. Together, we've already accomplished a lot when it comes to health care reform. Though we've taken the first major steps to reform our broken health care system, there are still many steps left until we finish the job.
This week President Obama addressed the American Medical Association and stressed the important role doctors will play in overhauling our health care system. As the New York Times opined just this past weekend, doctors largely decide what procedures or treatments are performed on patients. Everyone should know that the reforms will preserve the doctor-patient relationship. Those who want to keep the insurance they have and the doctors they have can do so. Nothing in the reforms will allow anyone or anything to come between doctors and patients in making health care decisions.
But, in order to truly reform our health care system and make it financially viable, we need to rein in wasteful and redundant procedures -- an effort that doctors support. We will reduce the amount of time they spend doing paperwork so they can devote more time practicing medicine. I was impressed by President Obama's remarks which stressed many important reforms: lowering administrative costs by increasing the use of electronic medical records, promoting prevention and healthier lifestyles. and changing the way we pay for health care services by focusing on quality over quantity.
Most importantly, the President stressed the importance of a public health insurance option being included in our health care reform legislation. A public option will provide more choice and more competition to private insurers, helping to lower costs to consumers.
President Obama has made it clear that he wants health care reform legislation on his desk by the end of the year, and we're working hard towards that timetable. There is an economic imperative to this goal because there is such a significant economic impact from health care spending. We won't recover from the recession if we don't bring health care spending under control.
Bob Braun of the Star-Ledger wrote about some of the reforms that could be included in the bill. These key reforms will overhaul our system in a manner that it hasn't seen in over 40 years. We will reduce costs, offer choice of doctors and plans and guarantee affordable, quality health care for all. We will have a uniquely American solution that builds on the best of what works and reforms what doesn't.
In just six months, we've seen more progress in this country than we’ve seen in decades. But our work is far from over. And I hope I can count on your support. As always, you can visit the Health Center on my website to share with me your health care stories and ideas for reform. Also, if you aren't already, I hope you will follow my "tweets" on Twitter as I'll updating on the health reform issue as it unfolds on Capitol Hill.
(Cross-posted at Blue Jersey)