Copyright 2009 Gannett Company, Inc.All Rights Reserved
USA TODAY
September 30, 2009 Wednesday FINAL EDITION
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 8A
LENGTH: 381 words
HEADLINE: What would you pay for life-saving treatments?
For most people, good health is probably their most precious possession. The problem with our medical system is that it tries to reconcile the public's desire to have everything possible done to extend one's life or improve one's health with the limited resources that are available ("Where health care spending goes," Health care special report, Sept. 23). Sen. Edward Kennedy is an example of this very emotional and personal choice regarding how we spend our health care dollars. Kennedy was 76 when he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, and even with the best of therapies, his life was extended by at most a few months. His treatments cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.Kennedy, members of his very caring family and his public would argue the cost was well worth it, even for a few extra months of life. But those hundreds of thousands of dollars could have paid the annual health insurance premiums of more than 100 of the 47 million uninsured Americans.No matter, Kennedy, the staunch advocate for health care for these same uninsured, could handle the bill. His exceptional financial resources paid for his care; many of us are not lucky enough to have such an arrangement.So how do we resolve the dilemma of providing universal access to health care of the highest quality with the limited resources available? The answer: We can't. What we can do is cut costs for inefficient care, improve our infrastructure and find cures for diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and dementia, which are driving up our costs.Costs will continue to rise in the short run until major cures are found. Meanwhile, we will make progress toward the goal of cost containment and create a health care system with which we are more satisfied.Ron Gottlieb, M.D.Williamsville, N.Y.Inefficient governmentLet me see whether I have this right. Medicaid and Medicare are two government-controlled and managed health services ("A look at what Obama said," News, Sept. 10).By getting rid of the fraud and waste in these two organizations, we are going to be able to create and pay for a mega health system -- managed and controlled by the government. The same government that allowed Medicaid and Medicare's fraud and waste. You cannot be serious.Cheryl JonesTobaccoville, N.C.
LOAD-DATE: September 30, 2009
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