Most of us remember the introduction for Superman, “Faster than a Speeding Bullet.” That reminds me of the way Congress passes bills today.
A bill usually contains a strange name and pages and pages of non-understandable English. It is introduced to Congress, passed in Congress and signed by thePresident in a flash, similar to the “flash of light” introducing the Lone Ranger.
For example, let’s take the new health care law just pronounced as legal by the United Supreme Court. That piece of legislation contains over 100,000 characters. I would surmise not every member of Congress read the bill, even those who have taken a speed reading class.
The new health care law, which may or may not remain the law of the land for some time, has the overtones of legislation passed in either the Franklin Roosevelt or Lyndon Johnson administrations.
Even the key elements of the health care bill remain a bit murky and certainly not understood by the average physician or American. Perhaps medical schools will offer a new advanced degree for doctors who actually understand the law and can pass a test. We would get a brain surgeon who thinks like a bureaucrat. One’s ability to quantify outcomes will replace the “bedside” manner. That will be the case for the few physicians left in the practice of medicine, who will provide service to fewer patients.
The new health care may be called “remote control medicine.” Orders from Washington, carried out by “protocols”, rather than the recovery and health of the parent.
Now, my dear departed cousin George and my uncle Robert, both country doctors on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, would surely scratch their heads over such federal mandates from Washington, and maybe even chew a plug of tobacco or two. Cousin George was the Chief of Staff of Macready Hospital in Crisfield for the first 30 years of that institution’s existence. Uncle Robert was a general practitioner and postmaster of Pocomoke City, and uncle Fletcher, in addition to his medical practice, was the first elected mayor of Crisfield, Maryland in 1910. Today, federal regulations would probably prohibit their civic activities.
Until the mud is cleared, do we really know how health care will be administered in America? Do we even know if this new law will stand the test of congressional and national elections?
Perhaps it is now time to stock up on our pills, family remedies and patent medicines before the new regulations make their way out of Washington.
With fewer doctors to write prescriptions, the old medicine cabinet will become the center of family medicine. And this is progress?
Remember, the world is run by those who show up.
Fletcher R. Hall is Chairman & CEO of F.R. Hall & Associates, a public affairs and corporate communications firm in Chestertown, Maryland and Potomac, Maryland.
DLaMotte says
I believe health care is a bit different than it was when your departed family members practiced medicine.
This law is a small step in the right direction.
Personally, I’d like single payer health care…
Chris says
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/vb8vs/eli5_what_exactly_is_obamacare_and_what_did_it/c530lfx
The above link largely deals with the changes coming as part of the PPACA, with citations to the relevant sections.
And while the number 100,000 sounds impressive, the word count is around 300,000 to 400,000. To put that in perspective, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix comes in at 257,045 words.
Stephan Sonn says
Fletcher
I am not drawing the same conclusions from your interpretation as you do
but I do respect your moderate tone and reasoned approach.
A rare snapshot of sanity in a chaotic culture war.