Online Editorial - Health Care "Reform?"
Stephen Hochschuler, MD - Past President
August 17, 2009
As Members of Congress return to their states and districts to discuss with their constituents the substance of health care reform now taking shape in Washington, they are finding that the optimism for true reform that existed last spring has eroded in the face of the reality of the legislative process, and the realization that they may be overreaching. Specifically, the initial enthusiasm that the President, Congress and many stakeholders felt about the core principles sought in reform - increasing access to care and reducing costs - has waned, as current legislation seems to stray from those core principles and may end up foisting onto the American people something altogether different.
No one would argue that we shouldn't modify and expand our system to be more inclusive to those who are uninsured or underinsured, or that we need insurance reforms to protect those who do have insurance but who have been improperly denied coverage for the care they need. Indeed, nearly everyone acknowledges that we must also do something about the excessive and rapidly growing cost of care, and also take steps to better address and curb the overutilization of services and the overall lack of efficiency in our system that drives up costs. But is the current legislation now being considered (and in some cases already agreed to by the House of Representatives) a cure for what ails us, or simply a thinly veiled attempt to increase government's control over the provision of health care? Judging by the reception that Members of Congress are receiving back home, I think it's fair to say that things have gone awry.
To wit, the legislative authors and supporters of the recently passed House version of health care reform are finding that perhaps our citizens are not as supportive of 'reform' as they were, once they begin to examine some of the details contained in the House's 1017-page bill. Indeed, this bill contains many provisions that should give us all pause. To read the entire 1017-page House-approved bill, please go to the following links: click here to view the House of Representative approved bill. Contact your Congress (click for list of Representatives) and Senate (click for list of Senators) representative. We have also included the list of town hall meetings for your reference below.
As our elected leaders begin to make the tough decisions around health care legislation, it is imperative that our profession - and indeed our SAS - has a voice in this process, and that we advocate for policies, principles and provisions that ensure that our patients have access to the best care and the latest innovations in spine surgery. I strongly urge you to learn more about what your elected leaders are doing to advance reform, and to urge them to make decisions that will preserve and enhance the physician-patient relationship, and ensure that doctors maintain autonomous clinical decision-making authority. 
The healthcare reform effort on Sermo continues to grow. In the last three days, over 4,400 physicians have signed the Physicians' Appeal. And with each signature, the impact of every physician's voice gets stronger. You'll be helping to ensure that lawmakers know that four key issues are critical to meaningful reform: tort reform, transparency in billing, insurance reform and recalculation of reimbursements. Add Your Signature to the Sermo Physicians' Appeal > Town Hall Meetings To Counter Protest. July, August, September 2009Health Care Constituent Outreach
Monroe- Walton Library
Monroe, GA 30655
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Start Time: 10:00 AM End Time: 12:00 PM In attendance, Rep. John Linder H (REP) District 7 Health Care Constituent Outreach
Covington Library
Covington, GA 30014
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Start Time: 1:00 PM End Time: 3:00 PM In attendance, Rep. John Linder H (REP) District 7 Health Care Town Hall
Cherryville Fire Department
Cherryville, NC 28021
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Start Time: 6:00 PM End Time: In attendance, Rep. Patrick McHenry H (REP) District 10 Health Care Town Hall
Charles A. Harry Clev. County Admin Bldg
Shelby, NC 28151
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Start Time: 6:00 PM End Time: In attendance, Rep. Patrick McHenry H (REP) District 10 Health Care Town Meeting
R.D. Anderson Applied Tech. Ctr.
Moore, SC 29369
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Start Time: 7:00 PM End Time: In attendance, Rep. Bob Inglis H (REP) District 4 Health Care Town Hall
Jackson City Hall
Jackson, CA 95642
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Start Time: 10:00 AM End Time: 12:00 PM In attendance, Rep. Dan Lungren H (REP) District 3 Health Care Town Meeting
New Prospect Elementary School
Inman, SC 29349
Monday, August 24, 2009
Start Time: 7:00 PM End Time: In attendance, Rep. Bob Inglis H (REP) District 4 Health Care Town Hall
Lakewood City Hall
Lakewood, WA 98499
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Start Time: 7:00 PM End Time: 8:30 PM In attendance, Rep. Adam Smith H (DEM) District 9 Health Care Town Meeting
Lake Forest Elementary
Greenville, SC 29615
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Start Time: 7:00 PM End Time: In attendance, Rep. Bob Inglis H (REP) District 4 Health Care Town Hall
Rancho Cordova City Hall
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Start Time: 7:00 PM End Time: 8:30 PM In attendance, Rep. Dan Lungren H (REP) District 3 Health Care Neighborhood Day
Spring Valley Library
Spring Valley, CA 91977
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Start Time: 1:00 PM End Time: 2:00 PM In attendance, Rep. Susan Davis H (DEM) District 53 Health Care Town Hall Meeting
Hayward City Hall
Hayward, CA 94541
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Start Time: 10:30 AM End Time: 11:30 AM In attendance, Rep. Fortney Stark H (DEM) District 13 Health Care Town Hall Meeting
Ruggieri Senior Center
Union City, CA 94587
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Start Time: 9:00 AM End Time: 10:00 AM In attendance, Rep. Fortney Stark H (DEM) District 13 Health Care Town Hall Meeting
Alameda City Hall
Alameda, CA 94501
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Start Time: 12:00 PM End Time: 1:00 PM In attendance, Rep. Fortney Stark H (DEM) District 13 Health Care Public Event
Kingfisher County Fairgrounds
Kingfisher, OK 73750
Monday, September 28, 2009
Start Time: 6:30 PM End Time: 8:30 PM In attendance, Rep. Mary Fallin H (REP) District 5 | 
