‘Changes in Health Care’
The Times’ editorial “Changes in Health Care” (Jan. 2) revives the hope that, somehow, two new presidential commissions reviewing our country’s health problems may discover a new “magic bullet” solution.
Government and private studies have addressed these problems over at least the last 20 years. Voluntary efforts to constrain runaway hospital charges have failed. Efforts to transfer increasing costs to patients have resulted in more than a million new people denied access to medical care each year. Charges for doctors’ services continue to escalate. The results are that American consumers pay more per capita for health services than any nation in the world.
In the absence of a “magic bullet” we need to recognize (a) partial patchwork reforms don’t work; (b) comprehensive changes in how health care services are delivered and financed are essential; (c) national and state budget controls with increased public financing are a must, and (d) universal access to care is essential.
MELVIN A. GLASSER
Director, Committee for National Health Insurance
Washington, D.C.
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