This report originally appeared in the August 2009 issue of DOTmed Business News

Over the past weeks, health care reform has taken center stage. Congress and the Obama Administration are working hard to pass legislation. Reading the news and listening to the talking heads on Sunday TV you'd think the entire system had already collapsed. But, it hasn't and it won't. However, it also isn't perfect. What's needed is to bring definition to the problems and to apply cost-effective solutions. Sounds simple, but it isn't in the face of reelection and special interest politics.

The U.S. health care market is 18% of our GDP. In comparison, the U.S. auto market is less than 4%. Think about how well our government handled that problem and ask yourself if you want them handling something that is more than four times the contribution to the GDP and responsible for keeping you alive and well?
The U.S. Census Bureau statistics report 47 million uninsured citizens in the US. That's 15% of the population. If 15% are uninsured, then 85% are insured and about 90% of those insured, according to recent polls, are satisfied with the system as it exists. The problem is one of access and cost, not insurance.

Our problems aren't limited to politicians. The scream, shout and run in circles routine is well used by the providers of health care services. In July, Medicare proposed increasing the equipment usage rate to 90% for equipment over $1 million (up from 50%). This will limit patient access and cut payments to providers. Also in July, three hospital associations offered $155 billion in combined cuts over 10-years to Medicare to help offset costs. Are they being altruistic? Not hardly. This appears an offer that if accepted, would remove competitors (doctor owned specialty hospitals), further limiting patient access.

Radiologists continue to replace imaging equipment with more powerful and costly devices. Higher equipment costs demand higher reimbursement - often without better patient outcomes. Maybe we can see more, but do we know more about the disease?

In the US health care marketplace, there's no room for compromise. We live in an adversarial environment with payers and providers facing off daily. The Congressional Budget Office has stated America can't afford national health care as is being proposed by Congress. But as long as the providers of services continue to dig in, the Government may prevail while we all lose.

General George Patton had it right when he said, "Never dig in. Keep advancing. Fire your weapon at the entrenched enemy. Don't worry about aiming, just fire rapidly at their position and keep them dug in." He was right and our Government is advancing and firing aimlessly at the entrenched health care providers. If we don't move forward together to solve our problems, all sides will lose. The result will be poor access, no choice and lower quality of health care at a tremendous price and cost to our well-being.

Wayne Webster is a consultant in Medical Imaging Business Development. You can send your comments or questions to W.Webster@Proactics.net.

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