Healthcare Reform: You Can Do It Yourself Today

Healthcare reform is leading the news throughout the country at the present time. President Obama, Senator McCain, and both the Democrats and Republicans have favored some type of reform.

Part of healthcare reform is already here! The state CHIP program for children in families with low incomes already provides medical insurance to kids who are in need. Medicaid programs are in effect throughout the country and many patients who do not have insurance who would be eligible for Medicaid are simply not applying for this. This healthcare reform is already in place and should be utilized appropriately. Many patients who lack health insurance can afford insurance and have just chosen not to obtain it, and this is incorrect.

More importantly, bills which have passed Congress and been signed into law, including the Budget Act, Continuing Appropriation bills, and Stimulus Package have all included funding of various aspects of healthcare reform, and this is already in law, signed by the President, and part of the preparations for new aspects of healthcare. Furthermore, Medicare has already published regulations indicating that many aspects of healthcare reform are in progress. None of these aspects require further action by Congress and are already going to impact you: Gradual introduction of Electronic Health Records into medical practices, use of comparative effectiveness to determine which treatments are best for your care (especially in cardiac care, care of chronic respiratory conditions, and cancer care), and payment for meeting National Guidelines for treatment (pay for performance) will all take place over the next 4 years.