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 I
am always amazed at the ability of “culture-watchers” to come up with an
ever-expanding array of monikers to describe every generation. The
Greatest Generation, the Baby Boomers, Generation X, – and now “The
Sandwich Generation,” which I have learned is not a club for those that
like lunch meat, but rather for those like myself that are providing
care for children and parents simultaneously. It’s an unexpected place
that many of us have found ourselves in – caring for parents, children
and ourselves. And, it is a situation that has reinforced my personal
belief that we need significant healthcare reform in this country to
provide a better quality of care at lower costs to everyone from
children to the elderly.
Consider this:
• According to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS),
health spending is currently $2.3 trillion in the U.S. By 2015, the
number is projected to reach $4 trillion.
• A recent study by Harvard University researchers found that 50 percent
of all bankruptcy filings were partly the result of medical expenses.
• According to CRS, 47 million people did not have health insurance in
2006.
I believe that almost every change we need in healthcare is built around
the idea of empowerment. We need to create a healthcare system that is
based around the needs of the individual patient. We need real choice.
We need personal investment. And, we need to be able to answer the
question of “Who is in charge of my health?” with one answer – I am.
Taking a few important steps forward will help to change this.
The first issue we need to address is a reduction in healthcare costs.
In order to do this, we need to increase the degree of transparency in
our healthcare system and be able to clearly identify how much every
aspect of our care costs upfront, without decoding complicated forms. We
need to instill real competition and free market principles in our
healthcare system, where individuals can purchase the insurance plan
that is cheapest for them, regardless of if the insurer is licensed
across state lines. Small businesses need to be able to purchase
healthcare for their employees at a competitive cost through association
plans, and the self-employed need real options that do not just include
visiting the emergency room when they get sick. Additionally, we need to
look hard at our pharmaceutical companies to ensure that prescription
medicines are fairly priced in the United States, as well as potentially
looking at ways to safely import medicine from Canada and other
countries to drive down costs for our seniors.
The second step we need to take is a holistic modernization of our
healthcare system. By moving to electronic charting to allow “portable
healthcare,” patients would have the ability to see different doctors
and pharmacies, yet still have a central file for their record. I am
confident this will make it easier for a team of doctors and nurses to
understand all aspects of a patient’s health without unintentional
errors or unnecessary tests. A study by the RAND Corporation found that
inpatient and outpatient savings from the adoption of health information
technology could save up to $77 billion a year. We also need to increase
the use of medical modeling and simulation, which will allow doctors to
practice complicated procedures and scenarios with no risk to a
patient’s health. Trials have seen the clinical error rate in hospitals
drop from 30 percent to almost four percent, which, when applied across
the United States, could see medical error costs drop by up to $17
billion. Technology reduces costs for every other sector – why can’t
healthcare be the same?
Third, we need to learn to invest in our own health. Practicing good
health through exercise, eating healthy and treating conditions at the
outset versus years down the road will provide immeasurable benefits to
both individuals and the country as a whole. We need to make sure every
one of our children has the proper tools to set them on a path of
health. This means making sure that for both children and adults, we
couple this increased focus on prevention with a commitment to give
everyone a way to access healthcare when they need it. This does not
mean universal, Washington-run healthcare for all, but rather real
healthcare solutions provided in local communities and throughout
states.
Transforming our current healthcare system into one of empowerment,
choice, and quality is a difficult challenge. Each area that we need to
change is going to take a specific plan and proposal. But, it is a goal
we need to be committed to if we want to know both our parents, our
children, and ourselves have the benefit of good care. Over the coming
months, I will be working with members of the Fourth District to
identify solutions we could put in place to begin to achieve these
changes and will continue to communicate specific steps forward. I
encourage you to get involved and share your suggestions. The health of
our nation depends on it.
February is Heart Health Month
 Although
the rate has declined over the past years, heart disease remains the
number one cause of death in the United States for both men and women
each year. In fact, heart disease claims more women’s lives each year
than cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Alzheimer's
disease, and diabetes combined. It is also responsible for more deaths
in women than all forms of cancer combined. Throughout the month of
February, we observe American Heart Health Month, a time for us to
examine and become better educated about the importance of keeping our
hearts healthy and strong.
Some of the risk factors associated with heart disease include obesity,
smoking, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and
unhealthy eating habits. Individuals who take preventative measures
to control these things decrease their risk of heart disease. To begin a
new healthy lifestyle and lower your risk of heart disease, the
American Heart Association recommends you take the following steps.
▪ A healthy heart starts
with what you put into your body. Learn to eat smart by creating a
healthy shopping list.
▪ Healthy eating habits
can keep your heart strong. Learn which foods are better for you and
which ones to stay away from. Create a
healthy meal plan and learn better ways to enjoy the food you
already love.
▪ Physical inactivity is
a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Learn different
exercises to keep you fit, healthy, and strong.
▪ Keeping your
cholesterol in line can keep your heart healthy and strong. Test your
Cholesterol IQ and learn ways to keep your cholesterol low.
▪ Cigarette smokers are
two-to-three times more likely to die from coronary heart disease than
nonsmokers. Learn ways to help you
quit smoking.
For more information on achieving a healthy lifestyle and lowering your
risk of heart disease, contact:
The American Heart Association (1-800-800-242-8721) or
www.americanheart.org.
The Food and Drug Administration Heart Health Online at
http://www.fda.gov/hearthealth/.
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