Health Care Reform
On a daily basis, I discuss the health care reform details with my patients. My overall consensus is that most people have no clear understanding of what the reform really is. Most people equate it as "socialized medicine" and are not in favor of it. It's just a plain and clear example of how little most people know about the reform. They seem to forget about the people who currently DO NOT have insurance. Have we become a society of "what's in it for me" only mentality? Does the person captured in video at a townhall meeting saying, "keep you government hand off my medicare" represent the level of ignorance of the American people?
First, there is NO WAY the reform will be socialized medicine. Lets think about it. The hundreds of millions of dollars the insurance industry has spend in the past decade lobbying for their benefit would never "allow" such a bill to pass. It would shut down all of their businesses. Like most bills that pass, some of it will be good for the people and some of it will be good for corporations. We really won't know what exactly will be passed until it does. However, there are some good things currently in the bill regarding physical therapy. Just go to the APTA site for information. (i.e. 2 year extension on the medicare cap expemptions).
For now I think now is the time for every physical therapist, PT assistant, friends and family of PTs, and students to attend the townhall meetings. Ask your reps to support Medicare direct access, to repeal the Medicare physical therapy cap. for details about the meeting schedule in your state and what to say, click on http://vocusgr.vocus.com/grspace2/Newsroom/ViewAttachment.aspx?SiteName=APTA&Entity=PRAsset&AttachmentType=F&EntityID=6154&AttachmentID=3494c0dc-8c17-48bf-a50c-2bffab035769
http://vocusgr.vocus.com/grspace2/WebPublish/controller.aspx?SiteName=APTA&Definition=Resources&SV_Section=Resources
I encourage everyone to take action now because the oppotunity to make a large difference may not come again.
"Lets Do It!" Steve Young, DPT Body Solutions Voorhees NJ 08043
those that don't have insurance. However, this bill only angers the people
that have insurance. There is so much silliness and pork in the bill that the
effort to help has been abducted. Do you hear the hospital or insurance
industry complaining? How about the nursing home industry or the AMA?
There is no one group complaining about a bloated bill because they are all
bought off. There is no clear effort in the bill to reduce costs. It doesnt even
eliminate POPTS! Start over...