Nursing

Health Care Reform

Health reform advocates can improve the likelihood of enacting health reform legislation by getting large, influential groups and companies behind the plan, to help support it if it begins to lag in Congress, and reassure Americans that they can keep their current health care providers and professionals if they are happy with them. Many people fear change, and if they know they can keep their current providers, they may be more apt to approve the plan.

In addition, somehow, the plan has to have the support of the health care lobbies and special interests, or it will not pass, because they have too much power in Washington, and they do not want this type of legislation to pass if they think it will lose money for them. As one of the articles notes, the health care powers are deeply entrenched in this country, and they fear change, and so, they will not back any legislation they think may harm their industry and their livelihood, so somehow, that has to be addressed and dealt with, or there will never be health care reform in this country. Author Oberlander notes, "These groups are well-organized, well-funded, and willing and able to take advantage of fragmented political institutions that provide multiple opportunities to block legislation deemed as hostile to their interests" (Oberlander, 2003). Thus, Congress and whoever drafts the plan, really has to figure out how to show the health care interests the reform will help, rather than hinder, their profits, or it simply will not occur.

The health care plan must also be feasible and able to stand the test of Congress, who have vetoed all health care reform legislation offered up to them in history. Congress can find something wrong with just about any health care reform, from how much it will cost to how it is administered, and that means that the legislation has to be foolproof and have the support of a majority of the Congress or it will not pass. That is quite clear from the current mess with the auto industry and the lack of Senate support for a bailout.

References

Oberlander, J. (2007). Learning from failure in health care reform. N Engl J. Med, 357(17), 1677-1679.

Oberlander, J. (2003). The politics of health reform: Why do bad things happen to good plans? Health affairs Suppl web Exclusives: W3-391-404.