Another doctor chimes in on the single-payer option

Letter to the Editor
Asheville (N.C.) Citizen-Times
Nov. 6, 2009

A heartfelt public "thank you" to Dr. Michael Rey for his guest commentary, "ER doctor analyzes health reform debate," (AC-T, Oct. 23). He echoed my sentiments exactly, and as a practicing primary care physician, I strongly second his desire for a universal single-payer health care system.

I have practiced in the National Health Service Corps in a physician-underserved area (folks underemployed and not covered by Medicaid) and currently provide health care for a population totally covered by Medicare. The differences in my ability to achieve adequate care in these two situations are staggering. All U.S. citizens are entitled to adequate health care as their right.

Consider this in on-going discussions of health care coverage: The demand by organized labor for health care coverage has increased the costs of manufacturing to the point that much industry has left the U.S. Can we continue to have employer-based health care at the expense of losing more U.S. industry?

Dr. Ellen Kaczmarek, Asheville

http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20091106/OPINION02/91105040