Waco
– An ear, nose and throat specialist, he stood before the McLennan
Commissioners Court and told them a sad story about a young man who
“smashed his face” in a wreck.
 |
| Taxpayers are treated like bystanders in the health care debate, says County Republican Chairman Ralph Patterson |
But
it wasn't to be because, though the patient is employed, he's
uninsured, and he didn't have the money to pay for the office visit
and to pay the basic treatment fee to the hospital. The consequences are stark.
The patient will face severe issues in the future that concern his
breathing, vision and nervous system.
A
lack of insurance coverage will diminish the quality of his life - to a
huge degree.
Dr.
Bradford Holland, former chairman of the McLennan County Medical
Society and current chair of the outfit's legislative effort, made it
brief and to the point.
The
numbers don't lie. In the year 2000, 70 percent of doctors in Texas
accepted Medicaid payments; by mid-decade, only 47 percent would play
ball with the federal government. As of today, 30 percent will
perform their professional duties in exchange for Medicaid payment.
“Something's
got to give,” he said. As of today, anesthesiologists, surgeons,
radiologists – all the specialists – are performing their
services for free.
No other business in the world would continue to even try to function under those conditions, no matter what service is provided, he pointed out.(One may hear an edited audio recording of Dr. Holland's remarks by clicking here)
The
current legislative session is in a quandary as to how Texas will
respond to federal demands to expand its Medicaid system. Governor
Rick Perry is saying no – no way. His party, the GOP, is following
suit, and it's the majority in both houses.
The
current standard is that a family of three can earn up to $57,000, or
three times the poverty level, and still take advantage of a system
everyone agrees is beyond broken.
“It's
a mess,” said McLennan County Republican Chairman Ralph Patterson
in remarks following Dr. Holland's.
As
the deadline of January 1, 2014 comes barreling down the pike like a
blue norther, advocates are clamoring for the state to opt for
picking up an additional $100 billion over the next decade, a measure
that would help an estimated one million uninsured Texans get health
insurance.
In
San Antonio, George Hernandez, Jr., points out that it's not
necessarily the only course of action. As CEO of the University
Health System, he says with approval of the feds and the Texas
Legislature, a county can always set up its own situation in the
Medicaid department.
It's
a tricky situation because conservatives are saying not so fast.
To
exacerbate a complicated crisis, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June
that a state can always refuse to take part without being penalized.
Bexar
County Judge Nelson Wolff declared to newsmen that his county could
save $53 million a year if half of the 55,000 people on county-paid
health care were placed on the new system of an expanded Medicaid
program.
The
complications don't end there, said the GOP Chairman, Mr. Patterson.
The
Legislature underfunded Medicaid by $4.5 billion in the previous
session, which consumes 20 percent of the state's budget. If Medicaid
is expanded to fit the requirements of the Obamacare system, it would
consume 33 percent.
In
meetings he's attended, said Mr. Patterson, “...the taxpayers are
treated as bystanders.” He is amazed at the enthusiasm he sees
among those who will benefit from increased payments of Medicaid
funds.
Hisconclusion: The feds are counting on making such a mess that people will gladly embrace the notion of a single-payer health care system similar to the Canadian or British solution upon which most nations of the western world rely.(One may listen to an edited audio recording of Mr. Patterson's remarks by clicking here)
Dr.
Holland's three alternatives are not much more palatable to
conservative ears.
They
are:
- Expand the role of Medicaid and participate in Obamacare
- Create a public hospital district with taxing powers
- Send patients to Scott & White in Temple
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