AMSA UW

First, if the bill is too extensive, you may view the New York Times clarification on health care changes. Just visit this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/your-money/health-insurance/22consumer.html?src=me&ref=business

Second......

All the controversy regarding whether or not the reform has passed for the better or for the worse is quite blatant. The arguments range from being purely political (Republicans v.s. Democrats) to being a fight between logic A and logic B. 

So here's my opinion and a suggestion to all of you. I'm not saying that I'm right, and I sure hope you don't follow these words religiously. But anyway, here it goes: Keep in mind both the pro's and con's of the bill; it is not the solution to the root of America's health issue, but only the first baby step towards cracking out of America's debilitated, corporate-owned health system. Though keeping an optimistic mindset, I feel it vital that we be aware of what the bill's "health coverage to all" might mean ---- a greater "patient-to-doctor" ratio, leading to (potentially) more medical malpractice incidences, and more dissatisfaction with the "renovated" system. Despite I'm totally "gung/ho" about America's first successful health bill in a century or so (according to Mr. Obama's speech, today, during his signing of the documents), what I feel is the bill's largest mistake is "adding on to the current system". The root issue of America's health system is how it is delivered. The bill has quite wonderfully provided more access to healthcare for the American people --- and let me finish the sentence --- to the current, debilitated healthcare.

We need more doctors. Primary physicians, in particular. Period.

Greater access or not, without balancing the "patient-to-doc" ratio, it is difficult to have a system that is "good" in the long run.

With that said, I hope everyone is not afraid to both rant and rave about this significant current news on health! Criticize and praise it! Formulate your own opinions on it! One of the best ways of improving is, afterall, analyzing the "bads"; it's not pessimism, but rather a natural path towards an optimistic goal...

Best,

Angela K.

UW AMSA premed

Vice President of Advocacy & Education

PBS video clip on "Health Care Reform" as well as useful inforomation/more footages: http://video.pbs.org/feature/87/