Spokesman for 10,000-member doctor group opposes additional government control of medicine
The following is a statement from Dr. Donald Palmisano, spokesman for the Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights and former president of the American Medical Association, on Sen. Reid's decision to include a public option in healthcare overhaul legislation:
“The government-controlled public option is bad policy that will weaken our nation's healthcare system. As we've seen in places around the world, government-controlled healthcare leads to long waiting lines, substandard care, and an end to medical innovation. Placing Medicaid-for-all-type government caps on payments will not slow the cost of healthcare, it will only minimize the care that those patients' receive.
“Even with a state opt-out option, the federal government has leverage and resources to coerce states into accepting the terms of Congress' desires. A simple example is the government withholding highway transportation funds until states complied with their legislative dictates. Now imagine the impact if the federal government chooses its Medicaid funding as the means to pressure cash-strapped state houses to accept the Congress' latest whim.
“Medicaid and Medicare already reimburse doctors and hospitals less than the cost of providing many medical services. By forcibly tightening the grip on our nation's healthcare sector, the federal government will wrest more of the healthcare decision-making from patients and doctors and give it to bureaucrats in Washington.
“We have the best healthcare system in the world. More than 230 million Americans have health insurance and the vast majority of them are happy with their care and their doctors. And we agree that we should work together to expand access to healthcare without expanding the reach of the federal government.
“The Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights believes that legislators can strengthen our healthcare system by shielding patients from being dropped by their insurance carrier for pre-existing conditions, allowing individuals to keep their health coverage even when they change jobs, and empowering patients to purchase insurance across state lines. However, growing government control of healthcare is a recipe for disaster.
“We urge all Members of Congress to proceed with caution, because patients' lives are at risk. We continue to look forward to working with Members of Congress to ensure healthcare reform strengthens our nation's healthcare system for all Americans.”
Last week, the Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights hosted a two-day conference during which more than 100 doctors from across the country came to Washington, DC, to discuss healthcare reform and provide a “Second Opinion” on effective ways to improve the nation's healthcare system. Coalition representatives held a press conference on Capitol Hill and met with more than 60 Members of Congress and their staffs. These meetings continued the months-long conversation Coalition doctors have been having with their elected representatives.
About the Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights
The Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights is a non-partisan, grassroots coalition made up of over 10,000 doctors, healthcare providers, advocacy groups, and concerned citizens who are dedicated to the implementation of patient-centered healthcare reform that will improve patient care. For more information, visit the Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights website at www.protectpatientsrights.org or via Twitter at http://twitter.com/patientsnow.
Contacts:
Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights
703-405-9407
media@protectpatientsrights.org
