For the first time since Bill Clinton was in office, the Democrats have the majorities in the Chambers of Congress and the White House. This party has been in favor of universal health care and increasing the government's hand in health care, for a long time.
Now that they have power, what will they do with it? Will they, and can they, really change the fundamentals of how our health care system works? Let's take a look at five major health care issues that may be addressed in the coming years with a new president and new Democratic majority in Congress. The following will be ranked from least to most likely to change during Obama's first term in office.
Whoever is in office, it would still be highly unlikely to expect a one payer universal health care system to be the norm. Obama himself has said that he sees that as unrealistic, though, he would like such a change. We can guarantee that this change will not take place withing the next 20 years for sure, and we doubt if it ever would happen.
Business mandates to provide health coverage or to assist workers in paying for it was a large chunk of Obama's reform plan. This would include all businesses, except small businesses, to be required to provide coverage or at least help pay for their own plans. You can probably expect this piece of his plan to be nixed by business groups and possibly a candidate for a U.S. Senate filibuster by the Republicans/
Another chunk of Obama's plan was permitting all Americans to to buy into the group health plan that is presently only available to federal employees. At first thought this seems like a good idea, on one hand it would mean more people in a plan, so negotiations with insurance companies for lower rates would be an option. On the other hand, it is a mystery as to what this would cost the government and how much it would cost taxpayers to fund.
The battle to expand the SCHIP has been going on for two years now. The bill has been passed twice by Congress only to have Bush veto it both times. With Obama in office, and him having voted for it already, it will probably be an easy one.
Most lawmakers, health care experts, and the like agree that moving medical records from paper to the computer will not only reduce medical errors and improve the quality of care, but also reduce overall health care costs and administrative overhead. If electronic medical records don't come into fruition in the next couple of years, the Research Team will be fully surprised.
Now that they have power, what will they do with it? Will they, and can they, really change the fundamentals of how our health care system works? Let's take a look at five major health care issues that may be addressed in the coming years with a new president and new Democratic majority in Congress. The following will be ranked from least to most likely to change during Obama's first term in office.
Whoever is in office, it would still be highly unlikely to expect a one payer universal health care system to be the norm. Obama himself has said that he sees that as unrealistic, though, he would like such a change. We can guarantee that this change will not take place withing the next 20 years for sure, and we doubt if it ever would happen.
Business mandates to provide health coverage or to assist workers in paying for it was a large chunk of Obama's reform plan. This would include all businesses, except small businesses, to be required to provide coverage or at least help pay for their own plans. You can probably expect this piece of his plan to be nixed by business groups and possibly a candidate for a U.S. Senate filibuster by the Republicans/
Another chunk of Obama's plan was permitting all Americans to to buy into the group health plan that is presently only available to federal employees. At first thought this seems like a good idea, on one hand it would mean more people in a plan, so negotiations with insurance companies for lower rates would be an option. On the other hand, it is a mystery as to what this would cost the government and how much it would cost taxpayers to fund.
The battle to expand the SCHIP has been going on for two years now. The bill has been passed twice by Congress only to have Bush veto it both times. With Obama in office, and him having voted for it already, it will probably be an easy one.
Most lawmakers, health care experts, and the like agree that moving medical records from paper to the computer will not only reduce medical errors and improve the quality of care, but also reduce overall health care costs and administrative overhead. If electronic medical records don't come into fruition in the next couple of years, the Research Team will be fully surprised.
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