Even with or maybe because of the economic downturn, healthcare “reform” is back on the front burner. The fall election results were a lot about seeking economic stability and security. Healthcare reform is part of that search. The severity of Federal and State government deficits make reform harder but not impossible.
It is another story when you try to assure that all Americans, all of our neighbors, receive the care they need without going bankrupt. Whether or not they have a job. We could easily be them. It is another story that we are long overdue in finding ways to encourage cost savings. We over utilize services and are under concerned about how our behaviors affect our health. This failure makes our businesses less competitive; it causes jobs to be lost and is bankrupting private and public health plans alike.