Bold Precipitous Action — The Time is Past Due
- T Michael White MD FACP
- Dec 1, 2024
- 3 min read
T Michael White MD FACP
“The ancestor of every action is thought.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sunday, December 1, 2024
Dear Mr. President, Honorable Members of Congress and Distinguished Staff and Fine Citizens,
In 2020, Dr. Stephen Hightower and I were taking dead aim at fixing U.S. Health Care. These years later, I impatiently recommend our book to you: Affordable Basic Health Care for All. Understanding that your time is precious, let me take you right to the point. Health care in these fine United States is in chaotic disarray:
When the patient 1) has the correct condition and 2) finds her/his self in the gifted hands of the correct better angel, care will be magnificently brilliant;
When the patient has 1) health care insurance and 2) has adequate wealth to address premiums, co-pays and deductibles, care will be affordable;
In the past (1970s), care was afforded by the employer-insured (unwealthy) working middle class;
Now (2020s), care is unaffordable for most of our fine citizens;
Choice between either health/life or preservation of hearth, home, education and retirement is now made daily; Ergo
The time has come for thoughtfully considered, bold precipitous action.
In sum, our insured near and dear have become uninsured.
How can this be the case? After intense review, I have come to understand that American Medicine has had its priorities wrong. Striving for scientific advancement and profit, it has neglected human decency. For several generations it sort of/kind of worked. But now, the health system of these fine United States finds itself in a place in which a shrinking privileged few experiences exorbitantly priced miraculous care while the masses are denied (by inattention and cost) basic dental and medical care.
In discussion with many, the above understanding finds consensus. Protected for the moment and to some extent by Medicare, elders articulate their worry about their successful, educated, working ‘insured’ but uninsured progeny — how can they manage? The elders, terrified, clearly see their near and dears’ security, potential and prosperity evaporate if reversible, treatable, manageable (but unaffordable) accident or illness intercede.
At this point in conversations, I seek recommendations for solutions. Universally, I am greeted with the “bewildered look” — that mien of hopelessness. Myself exposed, infected by, suffered through and now immune to despondency, I step forward:
The time is past due;
For an informed citizenry to speak and say it as it is:
United States health care is a chaotic muddle; and
United States health care cannot cure itself; therefore
Leadership, listening and hearing, must take thoughtfully considered, bold precipitous action; to realize
The provision, as national infrastructure, of defined Affordable Basic Health Care; which is
Guaranteed by the United States Treasury; where
Everyone contributes her/his fair share; to
Enable and preserve personal and national security, potential and prosperity.
What will this look like? For a detailed explanation, please read on — Chapter I: An American Health Care System Charter — The Path to Affordable Basic Health Care. The skinny — I have come to appreciate that a United States Health Care System modeled after successful regional Medicare Advantage Plans offering access to all eligible is the answer. With each contributing her/his fair share (yes, personal and individual taxes will rise proportionally while premiums and deductibles disappear); with emphasis on public health and prevention; with expectations for care and limits of care well defined; and with opportunity to choose (and pay for) care beyond that provided by the system, The United States Health Care System will advance health; address social disparities; preserve hearths, homes, educations and retirements; secure potentials; and enable national prosperity.
Thank you for considering. Please take past due precipitous action.
Respectfully submitted,
T Michael White MD FACP
Respectfully submitted,
Copy to: We The People at fixingushealthcare.com
As the cost of medical care rises, and as insurance costs consumers much more while covering much less of their health care needs, fewer Americans can afford the resulting out of pocket costs of routine care, to say nothing about the eye-popping cost of catastrophic care. I agree Medicare Advantage (MA)-like plans would be ideal for most Americans. Most cover routine and catastrophic health care services with relatively affordable co-pays by the patient. Nevertheless, MA continues to generate vigorous debate as to its effectiveness for among other things, adding billions of additional dollars of cost to taxpayers over what regular Medicare would have cost. Dental and vision care, free gym memberships and subsidized over-the-counter purchases would be great for…