One in six people do not have coverage, and 75% of total healthcare dollars go to chronic (long-term, no cure) diseases.  The United States is the only developed country that does not have some type of general healthcare for everyone.  And for what we do have, we spend the most for but are only 37^th in ranking for quality of healthcare.

A panel with Pete De Kock of Congressman Braley’s office, Dr. George Barton of Community Health Care and Lisa Charnitz of the Pivot Group and Russell Construction talk about what needs to be included in reform and why which was moderated by Van Sandt.

The numbers are staggering for both people without coverage and the cost of coverage.  Premiums have gone up 120% in ten years where at inflation has increased a mere 44% and wages 29% in that same time.  Consensus was if we don’t do reform now, we will have to do it when our system is totally broken—much like Medicaid. 

The discussion, while not settling anything, asked questions such as “Is healthcare a moral issue?”  “Is it only a cost issue?” “How much are employers and employees willing to bear for cost shifts?” “How do we get competition within states?” (Most states have one big insurance company who underwrites most of that states policies—such as Blue Cross Blue Shield in Iowa.)

In the end, it was agreed by all three panelists that it is absolutely necessary to reimburse based on results of treatment rather than services rendered.  With the services paid for, that simply perpetuates the cost problem with unneeded tests, check-ups, etc.