THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 26, 1996 TAG: 9602220004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Like most physicians, I had misgivings about the concept of health-care reform. Like most physicians, I have wondered what happened to all the money, time and work spent on studying health-care reform. The problems in health care are still with us - especially the concepts of cost, quality and access.
The vacuum left after the government could not find solutions for these problems has been filled by ``market reform.'' Ordinarily, as a small-business man, I would welcome reforms backed by those closest to and most familiar with the health industry. I question, however, whether market reform truly is being pushed by a pure, free market. I wonder if other forces are changing health care from the top and the bottom; the bottom being the bottom line - costs.
Big money, represented by big business and health-maintenance organizations, has persuaded state and federal politicians that the ultimate solution to high cost is managed care.
What happened to the problems of access and quality of care? Do we - as voters and as patients - have a choice in this matter?
A coalition of Virginians who support patient choice in and access to health care is introducing the Patient Protection Act of 1996 in the General Assembly. This act should help ensure that the quality of health care in this state is not reduced by an overemphasis on costs. It has elements to help health-insurance purchasers, patients and their physicians.
The act will help subscribers to a health-insurance plan to go outside a plan's limited group of physicians and other health-care providers for a wider choice. There would be an additional fee for this option. However, this fee must be limited; an option that is too expensive is not a real option.
The Patient Protection Act will require plans to be written in simple and clear language so that both employers and patients can easily appreciate such information as the percentage of the insurance premiums spent on health services (vs. the plans' administrative and overhead costs) and the types of incentives in the plans designed to reduce the amount or type of health care provided.
Virginians should support the Patient Protection Act of 1996. They should let their local legislators know that they value quality and affordable health care and that they want to keep the ability to choose and keep their own doctor.
SAMUEL T. SELDEN, M.D.
Chesapeake, Feb. 2, 1996 by CNB