By Don Corrigan
Webster-Kirkwood Times, September 14, 2012
Speeches on health care, its costs and its delivery found a place at both party conventions this 2012 election season. Dr. William Fogarty Jr. fears the fiery political oratory may be generating more heat than light.
Fogarty, who serves on the local leadership committee of Physicians for a National Health Program, finds all the political rhetoric exasperating. He will explain his organization’s take on the health care debate at the Ethical Society, 9001 Clayton Road, at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 20.
“If logic dictated what we do in America – which it doesn’t – we would have Medicare for all,” said Fogarty, a resident of Webster Groves. “Medicare works well at a far lower cost than private insurance. It has high levels of patient satisfaction.
“Talk to most doctors and you will find far more unhappiness with the insurance companies, than with the government’s Medicare,” Fogarty added. “Some $400 billion is now lost to administrative costs of health insurance companies annually. This could be saved to cover the 25 million who remain uncovered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).”
The ACA, tagged by its critics as “Obamacare,” has inspired negative reactions and harsh political rhetoric. Fogarty said the reaction underscores his premise that America and its citizenry are illogical when it comes to a good health care system.
“All the polls show that Americans like a system where you cannot be cut off care for pre-existing conditions; where prescription costs are held down; where the young can stay on their parents’ policies until 26,” said Fogarty. “Then you ask them if they like the Affordable Care Act and they scream, ‘no.'”
Fogarty said it makes no sense, because all of the positive attributes for care are under ACA. Fogarty said he has no desire to be embroiled in politics and his wife tells him that after a solid practice in St. Louis medicine for more than three decades, he should keep a low profile.
“It’s hard not to get political with this,” said Fogarty. “The Democrats have done a poor job promoting ACA and health care for all. Republicans have just been disingenuous. There is no doubt they are in the back pocket of the health insurance industry.
“I see ACA as a step on the way to Medicare for all,” said Fogarty. “ACA is not my first choice, but progress is slow and it’s a first step. The irony (of GOP opposition) is that ACA has two key Republican ideas: an insurance mandate that everyone must pay; and, a health insurance company policy exchange for many participants to choose from.”
Against “Obamacare”
Once the ACA was passed in March 2010, the outcry against it was swift. That summer, citizens voiced their objections, often noisily, at candidate forums in the lead up to the midterm elections.
“I went to one of the forums at a school in South County and was shocked to see all these seniors yelling about keeping government hands off their Medicare,” Fogarty recalled. “I wanted to tell them that Medicare is by the government, but I was afraid I would get hurt.”
Republicans in the 2010 state legislature put “Obamacare” on the state ballot for August. Missourians then rejected it resoundingly in the non-binding referendum on Aug. 3. State Rep. Mike Leara, R-Sunset Hills, voted to put the ACA on the ballot and campaigned against it.
“I am against the government having anything to do with our health care,” Leara told the Times. “People who pay for their health care should not be forced into a system resulting in rationing 10 years from now. The majority of people are covered now, and they like what they have.”
Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, a primary sponsor of the referendum bill, said state voters wanted to nullify the ACA as unconstitutional, because it would fine them for not purchasing medical insurance coverage or for not participating in the federal plan.
In contrast, state Rep. Jeanne Kirkton, D-Webster Groves, said the referendum was a “symbolic political ploy.” She said the ACA, with its mandate to buy health insurance, was constitutional. On June 28 of this year, Kirkton was vindicated when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled ACA as constitutional.
Nevertheless, Missouri legislators continue to try to block ACA’s implementation in Missouri. They support another ballot measure to affirm “freedom and Missouri’s sovereignty” and to try to stop Gov. Jay Nixon from cooperating with setting up ACA in the state.
Battling Continues
Cunningham and many outstate Republicans continue to battle for “nullification of Obamacare.” Some Democrats argue that failure to implement an approved federal program, which has been declared as constitutional, amounts to secession.
“I am a reluctant advocate for affordable care and for Medicare for all,” said Fogarty. “I’m reluctant because I dislike politics. I dislike all the political money being poured into this. I dislike all the legislative and industry obstacles being thrown up against health care for people.
“Missouri has already lost millions of ACA money meant to update and streamline our computerized medical records system,” said the Webster Groves physician, who was educated at St. Louis University School of Medicine. “Missouri is losing out and it’s all because politicians want something to beat up Obama with.”
Fogarty, who has been serving as a volunteer physician at two indigent clinics since retiring, said he can point to numerous studies that point to the benefits of health care reform for America.
“There’s a very good study of the U.S. health care system as compared to a dozen other developed countries,” said Fogarty. “Whether it’s the Danes or the French, they all have better patient satisfaction, better outcomes, better economics.
“But you try to point this out and you are accused of foisting European socialism on America,” said Fogarty. “All this hysteria over our American exceptionalism – we always do it better, except we don’t. And Medicare for all would not be socialism. Doctors would still have private practices.”
Several other study guides that Fogarty cites to support his views on health care are from the American College of Physicians, American Association of Retired Persons and Consumer Reports. For information on his Sept. 20 presentation go to: www.mosp.us/events.htm.