Taxpayers To Blame?

Are taxpayers to blame for high health care costs? It seems that's what some would have us believe. This article by the Philadelphia-based Bulletin (http://thebulletin.us/articles/2008/12/16/top_stories/doc494746c9a32d2858647536.txt) details a growing obstetrics crisis in Pennsylvania. The state is struggling with a shortage of professional clinics for maternity care; and this is blamed on the rising cost of malpractice insurance. The blame for rising malpractice insurance costs? According to at least one source in the article, the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of taxpayers, who institute lawsuits and (presumably) as juries often find in favor of the plaintiff in medical malpractice cases. In the article, it is even suggested that specially-appointed 'health courts' should preside over such cases.

Could it be more obvious that the health care industry, as a whole, is trying to attain a position of infallibility? Though the article doesn't elaborate, it can only be imagined that the outcomes of health court cases would be decided, in large part, by physicians rather than general citizens. In such a scenario, an obvious bias would be present – and physicians and medical institutions that would otherwise be declared guilty of malpractice could get off the hook.

In Pennsylvania, the answer to the question of why maternity care is so expensive seems to be: “Stop suing us, or we'll have to continue raising medical fees.”

In reality, the answer should be: “Stop making life-threatening mistakes.”

All pregnant women who receive maternity care are putting their lives and the lives of their babies in the hands of a physician. A bond of trust is formed; and physicians should not be excused for serious mistakes during prenatal care and delivery any more than they should be excused for overcharging pregnant women who do not have insurance.

The root of the problem is not taxpayers who seek justice; it is the medical industry which seeks forgiveness despite profit.

Women in Pennsylvania who do not have insurance struggle to receive adequate prenatal care because clinics are overbooked – and it's much easier to justify taking on a patient with insurance or with cash than setting up a payment plan with a woman who can't afford to pay up-front fees.

Without access to insurance policies or affordable health care, these women suffer because their babies suffer. Babies born to mothers without proper prenatal care are more likely to be born at low birth weight, and more likely to die. The crises in Pennsylvania compounds the issue.

Pregnant women in Pennsylvania without insurance do have options. They can seek charity care; they can seek to set up payment plans with willing clinics (yes, there are still some excellent physicians out there). They can employ the help of Maternity Health (http://www.maternityhealth.org) for resources on affording maternal care; they can consult with Maternity Advantage (http://www.maternityadvantage.com) to find physicians, set up payment plans and negotiate bills before they're charged, and they can be assertive throughout their pregnancies to ensure they're getting the best care possible.

The very people who make grants to health care organizations possible are being blamed for the mediocrity of the US health care industry. It's time to focus on real issues – gaining access to good medical care from physicians who care about their patients at least as much as they care about their pocketbooks.

I am PRO MOM!!!
Aaron Bouren
Advocate Aaron