Change.gov & You

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neotoy

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Published on December 3, 2008 5:10:15 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UJ-7MK-WqI

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Discussion

Duration: 4:43

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http://change.gov/

Interactive Health Care Discussion:

http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/join_the_discussion_daschles_healthcare_response/

My comment:

I believe that it is absolutely critical that any heath care method include a strict yet explicitly fair patient evaluation system. Note that I do not mean any system that can be misused for the purpose of discrimination based on arbitrary factors (ethnicity, religion, genealogy, economic status, etc).

Health care is personal, therefore it should be treated in a highly personal manner, but due to the sheer volume of people who require health care it is also essential that service is prioritized and distributed in an intelligent and economically viable way. At this point patient evaluation becomes a necessity.

Clearly a balance is needed between a dumb blanket approach, and smart pinpoint heath care. I suggest a service cost threshold based, two tier system. Tier one being a general health care policy that everyone is entitled to, that covers all low cost yet common health care needs. And tier two being a specialized heath care policy which can only be acquired after a very comprehensive patient evaluation.

According to all the metrics that I've reviewed, all social systems only work when there is a very conscious balance between punishment and rewards. People who knowingly abuse themselves should not receive high-cost public financed heath care. Likewise, people who knowingly take good care of themselves should receive high-cost public financed heath care.

This is a simple concept, but very hard to legislate. I think it constitutes the difference between a system that will succeed and one that will fail. Typically politicians and the political process will ignore or sidestep this controversial issue because of the obvious implications. However, doing so is no different than turning a blind eye to a great and arbitrary injustice.

Feedback is appreciated.