Yesterday, in my local paper, the Gazette, guest columnists Susan Turney of the Wisconsin Medical Society and David Newby of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO offered in an opinion piece three issues healthcare reform needs to address: access, cost containment and basic system design. If you read it, there was not much with which to disagree.
But in this fairly benign piece was a key statement that underscores how the current reform process is not tackling the true barriers to cost-effective, superior healthcare. Specifically they say that, “We can control costs if all employers pay fair shares of essential health costs, insurers truly compete and we reward providers for quality care.” Most notably missing is the patient/consumer and our role.
As my English teacher, Ms. Newberry used to say when I would use the word we inappropriately, “Oakleigh do you consider yourself royalty or do you have fleas? If neither is true would you use the word I.” While I appreciate what the politicians and leaders of advocacy groups are doing for me, I wish they would structure a greater role for me as the consumer of healthcare.
