| Healthcare reform plays a major role in | | | | Madoff ponzi scheme ring a bell here? Money |
| discussions and the media today, but it is | | | | invested with absolutely no return on investment |
| confusing, overwhelming, boring and seemingly | | | | not to mention complete loss of all funds. Who |
| unsolvable to most people. Howard Dean presents | | | | hasn't paid for insurance month after month and |
| the problems and solutions in plain language in his | | | | not received coverage when they needed it the |
| new book, Howard Dean's Prescription for Real | | | | most? |
| Healthcare Reform. | | | | Dean details the profit vs. care issue and |
| Hear someone utter the word Healthcare and the | | | | succinctly discusses the problems with private, |
| emotion that rises up and continues to spiral | | | | for-profit insurances companies that "must meet |
| nearly out of control is anger. Dean writes, | | | | two obligations that are often mutually exclusive." |
| "according to a recent report from the Center for | | | | These private behemoths are responsible for |
| American Progress, in March 2009 alone almost | | | | maximizing profits for their shareholders while |
| 11,000 workers a day lost their health insurance." | | | | shouldering the responsibility for good service to |
| Do the math and the anger turns to outrage - | | | | their customers. Is this even possible given the |
| 341,000 people lost their health insurance in a | | | | way private health insurance companies are |
| 31-day period. | | | | structured coupled with the lobbyists who ensure |
| There are "47 million Americans who don't have | | | | that they have more or less free-reign with |
| health insurance. But the healthcare debate should | | | | blatant disregard for the welfare of their enrollees. |
| also focus on the fact that 25 million working-aged | | | | Chapters cover the trials of small business |
| Americans have health insurance but still cannot' | | | | owners and individuals and uses real-life examples |
| afford to see a doctor," states Dean in his | | | | to drive home the point. He strongly states that |
| introduction. Terrifying statistics compounded by | | | | "America most shift from an illness-based |
| information from the Commonwealth Fund, "many | | | | healthcare system to a wellness-based model." He |
| go without needed care, not filling prescriptions, | | | | writes of the necessity to change the national |
| and not following up on recommended treatment." | | | | lifestyle toward one of prevention and healthier |
| Howard Dean is eminently qualified to write about | | | | living. A goal that neither political party nor |
| healthcare reform for several reasons. He is | | | | business or individuals could argue with - who |
| graduated from Yale in 1971 with a BA in Political | | | | wouldn't want to be healthy? |
| Science. He received his medical degree from | | | | Dean covers the challenges briefly but completely |
| Columbia University during which he spent one | | | | and spends a good portion of the book providing |
| month at the American Medical Association | | | | solutions. "Americans need real healthcare reform, |
| following Senators Jacob Javits and Ted Kennedy | | | | not just insurance reform, and nobody should |
| as they attempted to create a healthcare bill | | | | mistake the two," he states. "Real healthcare |
| during President Carter's first term. His was | | | | reform should offer coverage to the employed, |
| elected the first Democratic Governor of | | | | the unemployed, the sick, the healthy, the young, |
| Vermont since 1853. His efforts during his | | | | the old. Everyone." |
| Governorship insured that 99% of Vermont | | | | He puts forth five sound and achievable principles |
| citizens under the age of 18 had access to | | | | that "real healthcare reform must include." |
| healthcare coverage, expanded prenatal care, | | | | Everybody In, Nobody Out; No more Healthcare |
| community health centers and dental clinics in | | | | Bankruptcies: Take it to Go; Choose or Lose and |
| schools serving low-income children. | | | | Improved Care, Quality and Efficiency. He reviews |
| But it is his one simple statement at the end of | | | | President Obama's healthcare initiative; how to |
| the preface that says it all. "All change grows | | | | control costs; developing a revenue stream to |
| from the grass roots. Real healthcare reform | | | | pay for the initiative; and "who's been standing in |
| won't happen without you." He is clearly directing | | | | the way." |
| his thoughts at the everyman/woman - he is | | | | Dean avows that change is possible through the |
| writing for the people who need healthcare | | | | citizens, calling for change and action. He writes of |
| insurance or worry that their insurance will come | | | | how this affects people in different walks of life |
| to an end due to loss of job or steep rate | | | | and details, "What you deserve, and should fight |
| increases. | | | | for." He staunchly recommends how citizens can |
| Dean clarifies, finally a politician that realizes what | | | | and should take action; educate themselves; |
| the people want to hear and how they want to | | | | contact their local and national officials; contact |
| hear it, the difference between healthcare reform | | | | corporations and organizations and keep the |
| and health insurance reform. "So, the real debate | | | | conversation going until change happens. |
| about healthcare reform is not a debate about | | | | The last sentence makes Dean's position clear, |
| how large a role government should play. The real | | | | "Fights like this are won by ordinary people who |
| issue is: Should we give Americans under the age | | | | decide that they care enough about something to |
| of sixty-five the same choice we give Americans | | | | fight for it." Prescription for Real Healthcare |
| over sixty-five? Should we give all Americans a | | | | Reform should be required reading for every |
| choice of opting out of the private health | | | | American over the age of 18. This is the most |
| insurance system and benefitting from a public | | | | comprehensive and accessible presentation of a |
| health insurance plan?" | | | | situation that deeply affects each one of us. |
| He further states, brilliantly making his point | | | | About Howard Dean: |
| absolutely current, "Americans ought to be able to | | | | Physician Howard Dean is the former chairman of |
| decide for themselves: Is private health insurance | | | | the Democratic National Committee. He served |
| really health insurance? Or is it simply an extension | | | | six terms as Governor of Vermont and ran for |
| of thing that have been happening on Wall Street | | | | the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in |
| over the past five to ten years, in which private | | | | 2004. Dean founded Democracy for America, a |
| corporations find yet new and ingenious ways of | | | | grassroots effort that organizes community |
| taking money from ordinary citizens without giving | | | | activists, trains staff and endorses progressive |
| them the services they've paid for?" Does the | | | | candidates. |