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As we know all too well, the debate over health care reform has raged for several months and has transfixed the American public like few issues have in the recent past. Congressional committees have worked long and hard on various proposals, and citizens have taken advantage of “being heard” at the literally hundreds of town meetings held throughout the nation. In many locales, disagreements and misinformation about the components of health care reform – including fear of a government takeover, rationing, and even the specter of “death panels” – boiled over into shouting matches and fisticuffs that were well documented by national media. Everyone seems to have an opinion about health care reform. There are nearly 50 million Americans without health insurance who hope and pray that any health reform legislation will provide access for all. Sr. Carol Keehan, president of the Catholic Health Association, sent an open letter to Congress last month, urging our representatives to continue to fight for coverage for the uninsured. “The 47 million individuals without insurance, the 16 million individuals who are underinsured, and the insured who have trouble affording their coverage are all counting on your continued effort to reform our health care system,” Sr. Carol noted. “For these people, the current U.S. health care system is failing. It is clear that fundamental, comprehensive reform of the health care system is not merely a financial or political issue, but a moral imperative as well. There are also millions of people – actually, the majority of Americans – who currently are insured through their employers. Because of the cacophony of messages out there from groups who oppose health reform as well as those who support it – by one count, over $300 million in advertising has been spent over the last few weeks by various special interest groups - many Americans are confused about how health care reform legislation would affect them. Polls show that many people are happy with their current insurance coverage and access to health care providers, and are fearful that health reform will negatively impact this. An Associated Press poll released this week finds that, while Americans remain evenly divided over the legislation that is currently winding its way through Congress, this represents an improvement from a month ago. This is driven by a 16% drop in the opposition from senior citizens – a powerful and organized voting block, who are especially sensitive to any proposed changes in their health coverage. It is clear that the health care system as we know it needs to change for fiscal reasons as well. According to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, health care costs currently consume 18 percent of our gross domestic product…and if costs continue to rise unabated, it will consume 34 percent of GDP by 2040. And if we do nothing, the number of uninsured Americans by 2040 will be over 72 million. “Although the United States spends 50 percent more per person on health care than the average developed country,” says Sebelius, “…we aren’t healthier. Only three developed countries have higher infant mortality rates. Our nation ranks 24th in life expectancy among developed countries. More than one-third of Americans are obese. These statistics are a sign of a system that is both unacceptable and unsustainable. They also show us the high cost of doing nothing. If we choose the status quo, more Americans will be uninsured, costs will continue to rise, and every American’s health care will be at risk.” In the weeks and months ahead, there is certainly a great deal of work to be done by our legislators to make health care reform a reality. During this time, it is important that our elected officials continue to hear from all of us about the need to create a health care system that ensures everyone will get the quality care they need, when they need it. Over 50,000 colleagues work in Catholic Health East facilities. Nationwide, nearly one million people work in Catholic health care. One in six patients in the United States is cared for in a Catholic hospital. I urge all of you to continue to make your voices heard. CHA’s Vision for U.S. Health Care lays out the Catholic health ministry’s principles for reforming the health care system. (more specifics on CHA’s health care reform advocacy efforts can be found at www.chausa.org). In your communications with your legislators, please urge them support health care that is:
Catholic Health East was founded in 1998 with the shared feeling that “Together, we are so much more.” Those words ring even more true today as we fight for health care reform and securing our ministry’s future. Together, let us make our voices heard as we advocate for a health care system that is accessible to all, and truly person-centered. Sincerely yours,
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