Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Here's a question: If an already disabled health care system for the disabled isfurther disabled by government intervention, does that mean that the health care system in question is completely disabled? Or just partially?If completely, perhaps it would qualify for benefits itself--We would have to concur that the condition was permanent and stationary, however, just like the worker's comp physicians need to do before benefits can be issued.But, of course, this 'disabled system' is a thinly veiled reference to the Social Security Disability process , and the joking about qualifying the system itself for benefits might be the only way to finally break through the mad circle of benefit denial, copious paperwork mistakes, policy disputes, and downright foot-dragging which slow things to a snail's pace.It appears that common sense is simply out of the question. And that our national health care debate is failing to consider some fairly large health concerns. Just ask any disabled person waiting three years for benefits. Or a veteran returning to a million plus backlog in the VA system. Worker's Comp? Perhaps the worst of all, as professional collusion exists to waylay payments and medical services.The real question would be.....who would regulate a new system? Those whose interests are served by creating huge logjams by which to stretch out investor dollars? Wait, that's who regulates it now.......how about an independent panel comprised of a few non-partisan physicians, some business experts knowledgeable in creating successful streamlined systems, and throw in a few disabled people and a few injured workers? The disabled and injured are there to provide a degree of reality--you know, that which makes things real.While we are hard at it, we might as well take a shot at the VA. New regulators and managers. That's the ticket--open up all hospitals and clinics to veterans for any treatment, and simply allow the hospital or clinic bill the VA. Why wouldn't that work? And for God's sake, clean up those dilapidated hospitals!Put a panel of veterans (who have used the VA medical system) with some more smart business folks, and some compassionate doctors--and there you have it. A system which works, and realizes that quality and success actually go hand in hand.The 'health care debate' itself, as reported on with great regularity by the main stream media, has scarcely uttered on word about the broken Social Security Disability System, the Worker's Comp medical system, or the VA.There is enough reform needed in these institutions to start a whole new debate, which would doubtless encounter similar types of objections and baseless name calling. This is called bi-partisan progress in the United States.So, all of them broken. Backlogs of millions of people, all waiting for medical or financial help. Sometimes they wait for years, and sometimes they die waiting. These systems are not part of our health care? All told, billions of dollars are either wasted, squandered, or stolen every year from these coffers, and barely a whimper from our Congress.The concern for the uninsured is appreciated, but how about a shout out to those who are hurt, and are forced to hurt more and more as the system fails them? Absolutely, this is a health care issue, and needs as much attention as all the other issues being discussed nationally. And yet, the silence is deafening.If we don't speak up, we won't be heard.

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