PUBLIC VIEWPOINT: Don’t Rush On Health Care

Posted: November 21, 2009 at 4:22 a.m.

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I just read a public opinion on health care about a man that “plunged a knife into his arm, was shot in the stomach by a nail gun and his co-worker who put a skillsaw into his thigh and traveled to Siloam, bleeding all the way” and could not seek medical attention due to the lack of insurance. Emergency rooms across the country treat the uninsured daily without the injured or sick having insurance: Thus, “emergency room.”

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act passed in 1986 mandated the treatment of medical emergencies in almost all hospitals, including the ones in Northwest Arkansas, (except the VA hospital, a government run hospital). The hospital, because of not being able to collect for services, allow the patient to fill out paperwork and write the bill off to charity or the hospital may simply write it off to bad-debt,however, they may try to collect.

I, too, am self-employed and have been most of my life. Most, not all, of the time, I have been able to keep medical insurance on myself and my family. Is it as much fun to buy insurance instead of buying a new truck, big house, ATV, big screen TV...? No, but it is a necessity for a working man with a family or a single man with child support.

The current rush to pass health care reform is going to ruin our health care system if it passes. Ask yourself, when was the last time you, the reader, RUSHED to get a difficult task completed and did it correctly.

We are talking about our children and grandchildren having to pay the bill for the decisions we are making today.

They also will be the doctor and nurses of tomorrow. Will this be the career choice, for all their hard studying, years in school, internship, residency and specialty training, if theyare overworked, underpaid and regulated by our government.

Many of the RICH, the politicians are trying to tax, are these hard working health professionals who have opened offices, clinics and man our hospitals and emergency rooms. With their hard work and (OK, I’ll say the bad word PROFITS) they can do volunteer work around the world and open “free” clinics and hospitals.

What will happen to this unselfish work?

I agree insurance reform is needed to lower costs but will the uninsured find a way to pay for it even if the cost of insurance is reduced? I doubt it.

How about the brand new car?

Cash for clunkers was a success. For the elderly, sick, disabled, handicapped and children, YES, let’s help. Oh, I forgot, we already do!!!

JOHN NISBET / Springdale

Opinion, Pages 5 on 11/21/2009

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