But what does change really mean, as it pertains to the U.S. health care system?
It appears evident that several fundamental principles must be adhered to for any health reform efforts to be meaningful and effective:
1. Emphasis on preventative medicine must be a cornerstone of a new system of health care.
- Inclusion of complementary/alternative medicine products and services
- Research on potential benefits of CAM either alone or in combination with conventional medications/surgeries
- Preventative efforts must occur throughout the life cycle, not just when a person becomes ill.
- A new language for ‘Complementary/alternative Medicine’ must be developed, as for many it is neither complementary or alternative, but a core level component of health maintenance.
- U.S. laws will be amended to reflect the acceptance of complementary/alternative medicine as a standard of care in mainstream health care.
2.Drastic simplification and standardization in the administrative components of health care, including:
- Patient billing
- Insurance coding
- Regulatory requirements
3.Active citizen participation in the directions for medical research that are funding by public monies, i.e. tax dollars.
As the foundation of the U.S. health care system shifts from treating illness to keeping people well and preventing illness, all systems in the health delivery system must modify and change. Thus, reform must include administrative, regulatory and legal reform to support these transformational efforts.
To date, much has been achieved in documenting the safety and efficacy of preventative medicine. The challenge of real U.S. health reform is to incorporate that knowledge into the current health care system.
The current U.S. health care system spends $2.3 trillion each year treating illnesses. Can we, as a nation, afford not to invest in prevention and wellness? Can we afford not to incorporate prevention into our health reform strategies?
The other solutions, regarding simplification, legal and administrative reform, are principles of ‘good housekeeping’ that any of us would do in managing our households or our businesses. Can we afford not to?
Let us make this commitment to real health reform for ourselves, our children and for the next generations. There is no limit to what we will accomplish as a nation when we, our families, our nation’s infrastructure, including the laws that govern us, are committed to health.
About the author:
Dr. Mary Zennett is a practicing Psychiatrist. Board Certified in both Child and Adult Psychiatry she has worked with people of all ages and all walks of life. Passionate about health reform for many years, she is the founder of National Alliance for Health Reform and author of "Health For US All: The Transformation of U.S. Health Care". For more information visit www.healthforusall.com and www.nationalallianceforhealthreform.org.