Medicare Is Not A Good Model

For Health Care

To the Editor:

On the second page of the March 7 issue of The Bee, an article appears, written by Ms. Martha Burk ostensibly “clarifying” the concept of universal health care. Her final statement “ask them if they have any idea what they are talking about” needs to be applied to her.

Let me explain. Universal means government controlled. Government controlled means increased bureaucracy, increased regulation, increased cost, increased taxes, accompanied by decreased service, decreased quality, and decreased access to care.

She seems to think that the current Medicare system represents an ideal and could be expanded, at least that’s the way I read her article. What she, and many others, fail to realize is that Medicare is an unmitigated disaster. Ms Burk needs to become familiar with the publishings of David Walker, comptroller general of the United States. According to Mr Walker, Medicare will be bankrupt by 2017, and our economy cannot grow its way out of this impending crisis.

As a provider of medical services, I can attest to the fact that Medicare so grossly underpays for services and supplies as to effectively ration care at today’s levels, even as Congress is contemplating significant further cuts in reimbursement. Private medical practice, the backbone of America’s superior health care system, demands that the practitioner front all of the costs of providing care to patients. We do not get “paid” by Medicare (or insurance in general) — we are “reimbursed” for our costs, not based on actual value, but based upon the whim of the payor.

If Medicare became universal, most private practices would be forced to close. Services, or what’s left of services, would be applied through clinics, on a first-come first-serve basis as done in most of the rest of the world. If anyone doubts what I’m saying, just look at what’s been happening to our current system as more and more third party payors have been controlling payment.

So, what is the solution? Put a share of the money back into the hands of the patients, and allow them to decide what kind of service(s) they are willing to pay for. Learn about health savings accounts. Learn about and embrace the idea, as it is the only sensible way to have the best of all worlds. It is not generally understood, but 92 percent of us use less than $1,000 of health care per year. Tax free savings accounts will mean a large net increase in overall wealth for the majority of our citizens, while assuring us of keeping readily available high quality health care for all.

Sincerely,

Lionel G. Brown, MD

Director, The Hand Center of Western CT

35 Tamarack Avenue, Danbury                                      March 8, 2008