Dear Friends,
I participated in a conference call with President Obama yesterday. Apparently it was the first time that a sitting president has been on such a conference call. Almost 1000 Reform Rabbis had the opportunity to listen to him and ask a number of questions. I wanted to share with you a little bit of the call.
The President began the call by affirming his position on Israel. He reiterated his support for a Jewish homeland and his desire to see Israel find a level of security it has never before seen. He also reiterated his commitment to a two state solution. The call, however, was focused specifically on the issue of healthcare reform and he quickly turned to that..
As is appropriate during a phone conversation with members of the clergy, the President concentrated on health care reform as an issue of social and religious justice. He discussed the need for fairness our healthcare system. He noting that we are far from that now and that that is why the system so desperately needs to be addressed. He shared the fact that he believes his goals are merely common sense; consistent with the Judeo-Christian values we share.
During the conference call, President Obama shared a number of statistics that are familiar to many of us:
* We spend approx. $6,000 more per person than any other developed country when it comes to healthcare;
* Those who are uninsured currently find treatment in hospital ERs at a cost of $9,000 per year more than if they had had insurance in the first place;
* Even those who are currently satisfied with their health coverage will likely find, if left unchecked, the costs will double within the next decade; and
* Because of the current system, doctors are often forced to spend a growing amount of time struggling with insurance companies for payment or approval to treat, rather than caring for the people whose health has been entrusted to them.
He then went on to address some of the mis-truths that have been spread during this "debate" (or what should be a debate that often simply turns into shouting matches). He stated unambiguously that neither he nor his administration is interested in a government takeover. Those who have insurance and are happy with it will be able to keep their insurance; but those who do not have insurance will have a number of options from which to choose; one of which would involve the government directly. He was equally direct in his commitment that Medicaid will not be cut, but that this plan looks to address some of the billions of dollars which now go* to administrative fees from insurance companies. And he made it abundantly clear that there has never been any discussion of death panels or anything close to such a decision making group. As you know, the aspect of the reform which triggered this particular "discussion" was a provision involving doctors speaking with patients about end-of-life issues. (Creating a living will and deciding whether or not to have a DNR are issues our religious movement has encouraged for decades and something to which I am personally committed.)
The first question the president took addressed an important point when enough of the healthcare debate resides in a religious context. The president was asked how, in a situation that is so contentious and partisan, we as rabbis can discuss the issue? He gave a similar (and of course more articulate) answer to the one that I attempted to posit last year at the high holy days. We as rabbis should not be discussing the particulars of any reform, but we should and we can discuss the importance of addressing the inequality that currently exists in the threat to our entire healthcare system if we do nothing. [My sermon from last year follows]
In short, the president wanted to reiterate the fact that he has no interest in a government takeover. He has a strong invested interest, however, in achieving some sort of healthcare reform.
Finally, a personal note. As I stated in my sermon, like many of you, I am the face of the healthcare crisis. I *have the privilege of continuing my service to the community because I received good healthcare. I have caring and invested doctors and I have insurance which helps cover medications which would otherwise be unattainable. Even with that, however, every 5 to 6 months, my insurance company cuts off two or three of my key medications. For a month or two after that I, my physician and a remarkable health insurance agent are given the run-around as we try to get those medications renewed. There is no rational reason for this to occur other than the fact that the system is broken.
I am not by any means endorsing a particular position on this healthcare reform process. I do, however, want to underscore that my position on healthcare is not merely clinical. Healthcare is a moral and religious issue. I was discussing with an upcoming bar mitzvah student yesterday, in Parashat Nitravim we read about the inclusion of ALL members of the community in the covenant with God. Even in ancient times our ancestors understood that our obligation and responsibility extends beyond ourselves as individuals or families. We especially have a responsibility to those who are most vulnerable in our society. There is no issue more significant in this regard today than that of those who are not covered by any sort of medical plan.
I want to encourage you to make sure that you understand what is actually being proposed, rather than the very real and *loud attempts to spread misinformation. Read what’s available, take a stand, have your voice heard.
Again, I do not endorse any specifics of the plan - but I do know that it's time to look for a new approach that is just for all people, that properly compensates physicians and that puts more resources into caring for individuals rather than the bureaucracy of healthcare. There is a wealth of information on the website entitled Jews for healthcare reform. [It can be reached here.] It is a project of the religious action Center of Reform Judaism. I encourage you to take a few moments to visit the site.
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