A vision for health-care reform that is effective and affordable

Every 15-20 years, our nation, seriously engages in a discussion about health-care reform that would guarantee health care for all Americans.

Unfortunately, and for many reasons, high-quality, affordable health care for all has never been legislated. We are left with a broken system in which costs are too high and many are left without health-care coverage or inadequate coverage.

You know because you, a friend or a family member suffers. Right now, Washington state is about to drop 40,000 people from our Basic Health Plan due to dramatic premium increases, and the grotesque statistics go on and on.

As family doctors, we hear these stories and see their results in our clinics everyday. Patients tell us that they would have made an appointment sooner or taken their prescribed medications if only they could afford it.

Easily treatable diseases like asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure turn into strokes, heart attacks, amputations, preventable hospital admissions and even death. Everyday, we have to consider the insurance status of patients before prescribing certain medications, ordering tests or referring them for specialty care.

We are outraged, and we are ready for health-care reform that will matter in the lives of our patients.

President Obama has laid out three goals for health-care reform: 1. That it covers everyone, 2. That it reduces costs, and 3. That it provides choice (of physician or health plan).

As members of the National Physicians Alliance we support these goals and are engaging policymakers to create a reformed system that will serve patients and this country better.

We have a professional and ethical duty to deliver high-quality health care to everyone. As family physicians, our vision for health-care reform includes the following:

Everyone has a personal family physician (or other primary-care professional);

• People can continue to see their regular doctor even if they lose their job;

• Physicians and their patients are given enough time at appointments and in the hospital to engage in collaborative care so they can understand their treatments in order to keep well into the future;

• Patients and physicians are rewarded for emphasizing prevention; and

• Physicians are given the tools and resources that will lead to higher quality health care (e.g., electronic-health records and robust-nursing teams).

From purely a quality of care perspective, there are many reasons to support health-care reform that includes everyone now. It will enable patients to choose or keep their own doctor regardless of changes in employment or health.

It will allow doctors to provide better care for patients, especially those who suffer now without health insurance. People will be able to better afford the tests, treatments and prescriptions that they need.

We can improve communication and transparency of health-care delivery as well, using electronic-health records and patient-education tools.

Right now, administrative work takes up an enormous amount of patients' and their doctors' time. Without having to focus so much on administrative hassles, patients, nurses and doctors can put more efforts into prevention and direct patient care.

As family doctors and members of the National Physicians Alliance, we believe that the inclusion of a strong public-health-insurance option will be the only way to achieve these goals.

We ask our entire Congressional delegation here in Washington to support a strong public-health-insurance option in health-care reform legislation this year. A strong public-health-insurance option will be the key to achieving meaningful health-care reform that makes a difference for our patients, because it will force the private insurance companies to compete based on quality and be there for people if they lose their private insurance.

Opponents of President Obama's public option from the insurance companies will be mounting a fancy ad campaign based on fear. The question is, what are they afraid of? Maybe they are afraid that a new system would provide much better care, more efficiently and at a lower cost.

Let's not wait another 15 to 20 years for another opportunity to improve the health of our state and nation. Instead, imagine a day when you do not fear medical bills, when you get the care you need at the time you need it, and you develop a long-term and lasting relationship with a doctor who helps keep you well.

Contact your legislators now.

Jeff Huebner, M.D., and Charles Mayer, M.D., M.P.H., are practicing family physicians in the Seattle area.