I agree with Anita Marie, education in the United States is in need of a massive overhaul. When you think about education in America you think of standardized testing, not learning. You think of underpaid and overworked teachers. There is really, very little positive imagery that comes to mind. And I have to ask, what is more important than effectively educating our future leaders?
As Anita Marie mentions in her blog, when did the need for a well rounded education die? We teach today what is needed to pass the standardized test. We do not place a great emphasis on music, arts, and physical education. In fact, in most schools these programs are being cut dramatically. The blog Betrayed states it best when they say that our school systems are designed to teach the "same thing, in the same way, with the same package curriculum." We all learn differently. We all have areas where we are gifted and areas where we will struggle. So how can every child be expected to learn in exactly the same way?
I would like to believe that overhauling the school system is attainable. To me, it is going to be harder to change people's preconceived ideas about testing and how children should learn. We seem to be a society obsessed with figures and data, so there is likely to be a lot of opposition to finding a new measure of what has been learned other than standardized testing. But I agree with Anita Marie that it is worth it and our children are worth it.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Health Care Reform
Republican, Democrat, or Independent. Whatever you might call yourself, most of us would agree that major reform in the health care system is one of the most important issues that we face as a nation today. As the economy continues to sour, more people find themselves uninsured or paying more and more out-of-pocket costs. The concern is so high in the white house, that President Obama just this week signed and executive order creating an office that will oversee the overhaul of the medical industry.
One of the biggest and most controversial ideas of the current administration is to develop an insurance system much like the one current government employees enjoy. This system would be paid for by the government and eligible to those under 65 who do not meet guidelines for other federal and state programs ( such as medicaid and SCHIP) and those without access to employer health care, or those who cannot afford their employer health care. It would, in theory, still leave room for private insurance companies. This sounds wonderful, until you think about logistics. How will this program be funded? How will this effect the private insurance industry? How will this effect the medical community? Don't get me wrong, I would love for there to be affordable insurance choices for everyone, but we have to be realistic. President Obama targets the cost of such a plan will run around $50 to $65 billion in the first year. He expects this money to come from removing tax cuts for those in the higher tax bracket (over $250,000 a year). Do we really think that those who usually hold the most power and influence are going to sit around and let these tax breaks happen?
As someone who currently works in the medical industry, I also would like to know how the reimbursement rate for doctors will be set. This could be the make-it or break-it point of this whole system. If the rate is set too low, then no doctors will participate, much like what has happened with Medicaid. Setting the pricing too low would also cause the private insurance sector to go out of business. They would be unable to compete with pricing and that would create even more job loss. It could also cause less people to go into the medical field and result in a shortage of talented doctors and nurses, thereby affecting the quality and availability of care.
My great hope is that the new office made to overhaul the system can avoid being influenced by all of the varying lobbyists in the health care arena. These groups outspend all other lobbying groups, spending roughly $237 million to push their agenda. This group includes the very powerful pharmaceutical companies, private insurance carriers, doctors and nurses. I do hope that reform can happen, but it isn't something to rush into.
One of the biggest and most controversial ideas of the current administration is to develop an insurance system much like the one current government employees enjoy. This system would be paid for by the government and eligible to those under 65 who do not meet guidelines for other federal and state programs ( such as medicaid and SCHIP) and those without access to employer health care, or those who cannot afford their employer health care. It would, in theory, still leave room for private insurance companies. This sounds wonderful, until you think about logistics. How will this program be funded? How will this effect the private insurance industry? How will this effect the medical community? Don't get me wrong, I would love for there to be affordable insurance choices for everyone, but we have to be realistic. President Obama targets the cost of such a plan will run around $50 to $65 billion in the first year. He expects this money to come from removing tax cuts for those in the higher tax bracket (over $250,000 a year). Do we really think that those who usually hold the most power and influence are going to sit around and let these tax breaks happen?
As someone who currently works in the medical industry, I also would like to know how the reimbursement rate for doctors will be set. This could be the make-it or break-it point of this whole system. If the rate is set too low, then no doctors will participate, much like what has happened with Medicaid. Setting the pricing too low would also cause the private insurance sector to go out of business. They would be unable to compete with pricing and that would create even more job loss. It could also cause less people to go into the medical field and result in a shortage of talented doctors and nurses, thereby affecting the quality and availability of care.
My great hope is that the new office made to overhaul the system can avoid being influenced by all of the varying lobbyists in the health care arena. These groups outspend all other lobbying groups, spending roughly $237 million to push their agenda. This group includes the very powerful pharmaceutical companies, private insurance carriers, doctors and nurses. I do hope that reform can happen, but it isn't something to rush into.
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