By Christopher Stack, M.D.
Orthopedics Today, Letters, June 2013
In his commentary in the April issue of Orthopedics Today, Dr. Jackson makes several valid points. He correctly cites the many confusing facets of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), certainly a wishful title given that there is little in the bill that will control costs. In the long run, the legislation will not be affordable for the nation, and the people will be the ultimate payers. No one I am aware of, who follows health care policy, is pleased with the ACA.
Dr. Jackson suggests the possibility that the ACA was a conspiracy to speed the way to a single-payer system. Given the increased role of private insurers with millions of new customers and federal subsidies, this seems highly unlikely. The probability of a single-payer system should be celebrated not feared. The enormous benefits that have been projected far outweigh the alleged deficiencies of a more āsocializedā system.
āFinancial chaosā has been with us for decades. What will bring order to that chaos is the adoption of a single-payer system, namely the expansion of Medicare to bring all citizens into the fold as beneficiaries and premium paying members. By enlarging the risk pool to 300,000,000, including large numbers of the young and healthy, the actuarial experience will be improved, administrative efficiency will be improved and enormous overhead savings will accrue, which can be used to deliver quality care privately through our current delivery system to all Americans.
Support for a single-payer system, both in the general public and in the health care professions, has been growing. A single-payer system remains this countryās best option for solving our long-term fiscal problems while providing the best care for our citizens. Single-payer systems, or their fiscal equivalents, have been proven to be successful in every other industrialized nation in the world.
Dr. Christopher Stack resides in Indianapolis.