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Working out the kinks if Health Care reform | from the NYTimes: Consumer Risks Feared as Health Law Spurs Mergers

Nobody said Healthcare reform was easy, or cheap. But, if one cares to notice, there is movement towards a very different dynamics of patient/provider economics of care.

Check the article below, courtesy of The New York Times. Then check the rest of my normative considerations.

Consumer Risks Feared as Health Law Spurs Mergers

Consumer advocates fear the new health care law could worsen some problems it was meant to solve.

http://nyti.ms/c889mS

Two things:

I'm uncomfortable with all this talk of cost-cutting and savings. The language of healthcare should be less of this and more of getting care to the ones who need it the most, especially to those suffering from chronic diseases. Which reminds me, where is the combative aura of Healthcare Reform supporters? Why is it that silence predominates in this group? Or am I mistaken? Where are the dynamics that should transform this antagonistic fight into an agonist discussion?

Second, I can understand the concerns that come with petitioning the federal government for a relaxing of antitrust laws that might help providers ease their burden when implementing new regulations. However, this should not mean a lack of oversight. Government should be vigilant of potential dislocation in any future exemption from the application of the law. Otherwise, no lessons would have been learned and we're back to politics as usual, which in this case would mean patient's rights are dead words and families' fear of financial ruin will still be a reality.

Change is sacrifice, Americans should've learned that long ago. The goals of economic growth and prosperity for private enterprise should not contradict the goals of a healthy, productive, and more just society. They remain in constant conflict to be sure, but it is the role of the state to bring temperance and precarious balance when these forces collide in the public sphere.

Tell me what you think...

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