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The Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform would like to clarify two things in the Rocky’s editorial of Aug. 2 (“Single-payer baloney”). First, the commission is statutorily charged with providing analysis and recommendations regarding three-to-five plans to the legislature next year — not one.

The commission chose to analyze four very different health reform approaches from the 31 submitted to us. These approaches range from no requirements on individuals and employers to the single-payer plan discussed in the editorial. The commission is also developing a fifth proposal that will incorporate elements from many of the plans submitted to us.

We decided to evaluate the single-payer proposal because it is an idea that we believe policy-makers should better understand. We chose the other plans we are evaluating for the same reasons: They reflect approaches to health-care reform that many people are talking about and policy-makers need to understand.

Second, bear in mind that this evaluation is not yet complete. The information reported earlier this week in the Rocky is preliminary; the final evaluation of cost and coverage from each of these approaches will not be finished until later this month.

The commission’s work is far from done, as is the work of health reform in Colorado. We are evaluating options; ultimately, the legislature will decide which direction to go.

William N. Lindsay III is chair of the Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform.

READER COMMENTS

oh goooooodie the 'blue ribbon commission' speaks on how to socialize our health care.
I hope you were able to read how in England yesterday one of the countries medical leaders said medical treatment should not be used for obse people. I wonder what else they are about to rule out as it has to large a price tag on it.
how about for health care reform we limit all of the stupid law suits against doctors for everything they do. Yes there are times they make mistakes but not to the degree they get sued for.
sorry but this commission is just going to push the socialist form of health care because it is what people have been told that they want, and its free to them. just get the government out of health care while its still great. it you need examples of how government run programs dont work just look at the war on drugs, the war on poverty for two programs that sound wonderful and have cost billions and produced nothing.

you're a buffoon 4:58. You don't think insurance companies make decisions denying healthcare? Lawsuits are a fraction of a percent of healthcare costs. System is broken and needs to be fixed.

4:58am either works for an insurance company or is to stupid and blind to see what the insurance industry is doing to us. I have a very good job whith good bennies but healthcare costs continue to climb to where none of us will be able to afford to have it soon. Look at sky rocketing cost of drugs that has nothing to do with malpratice law suits. 4:58am is just another fool that keeps swallowing the GOP koolaid.

10;33 and larry you both only want something for free.
I have a very good job whith good bennies but healthcare costs continue to climb to where none of us will be able to afford to have it soon. well larry maybe you should leave mcd's and go to work for wal-mart and get better bennies.
I have insurance and pay a 20 co pay and its been that way for a long time. depending on the drug the co pay could go up to 30 bucks but such is life. for the family it cost me 220 a month my my employer picks up the rest.
I dont mind paying my share as it is to protect my family and has nothing to do with a government handout. I dont want the government in the health care business becasue then it will really go down hill.
so larry tell us oh wise one what is the insurance industry doing to us? youre mad that they take the risk to pay for all of your medical needs and in return they would like to make a profit. what do you think it will cost in the form of taxes if the government takes over? i am sure your idea is to pay for it by taxing the rich so you wont have to pay for anything, as you dont like it that someone who works hard and makes more money than you, would get to keep what they make and pay the same amount of taxes as you do.
now what you need to do is back away from your computer and let your blood pressure go back down so you wont have to buy any of those sky rocketing priced drugs to keep you alive. while your at it please correct your rectal vision by moving your head a bit.

4:36 , Couldn't have said it better myself.If the government get's involved they will expect people like you and I who pay for our families health care to pay some more for someone else's.
To all of those out there waiting for your medical handout,. Name one government program that is not riddled with cost overruns,mismangement,corruption,waste,high cost to just oversee the program,more Blue Ribbon panels after it starts going to hell in a hand basket etc..

Tick,Tock,Tick,Tock

A person might well get the wrong impression about what the American people think about universal health care in the United States from reading the posts on this forum about the topic.

Here is a better way to assess what the people think and want:

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. May 4-6, 2007. adults nationwide.

"Do you think the government should provide a national health insurance program for all Americans, even if this would require higher taxes?"

Yes: 64%
No: 35%
Unsure: 2%

"Do you think the government should provide a national health insurance program for all children under the age of 18, even if this would require higher taxes?"

Yes: 73%
No: 25%
Unsure: 2%

Truth
If CNN told me the sun rose in the East I'd wait and check it. They are the most liberal network out there, which is saying quite a bit. How about asking those who already have US government run healthcare ? ANY disabled vet will tell you what it means: long waits, one size treatments where only one method of treatment is approved for early cases of diabetes for instance. Cost overuns as people come to think of health care as free and abuse it.

Now ask the people who are in equal situations in socialized meicine and our system what they think. Wanna bet we get a much different outcome? But mob rule is not the object here. We need to remember that the government never met a good idea it couldn't destroy by taking it over.

We would end up with another two tiered system where the majority would have a baseline, probably much lower than we have now, level of care and the upper tier, whose members can afford to buy healthcare. It will be priced out of reach for the average person because the government will pay most of the bills anyway so why be thrifty.

You already know I have a very bad insurance and three serious pre-existing conditions so my healthcare is probably the most expensive, least beneficial available. Let me keep it!!
After dealing with Kaiser I know exactly how bad things can be and I don't want to lose any more toes, heart muscle or kidney function because someone in "authority" didn't think it would be cost effective. That is the argument VA used to attempt to deny my husband a medication that is proven to delay the onset of serious diabetic problems by as much as ten years and then argue about the prescription medication that relieves the constant pain in his feet from diabetic neuropathy without narcotics. Finally got it fixed but VA only gave him half of the recommended dose the first time and were very sorry but it couldn't be refilled for three months. We used our private insurance and paid twice as much as the VA charges but we got it right the first time without a lengthy argument whether it was necessary.

His company is going to allow MSA accounts and we will be the first ones in line for one. NO, it won't save us much but it will free us from the doctors who are only given fifteen minutes for a cardiac visit and ten for regular care. For non emergency treatment I will be able to shop for less expensive medications, treatments and doctors. Of the five doctors who treat me four have private practices and will see me. The accounting person in the one I'm seeing Monday is going to talk to me but guesses that if we need an EKG an office visit will cost about 100 and without it 50. That's if I pay cash. I can shop for the wheelchair I need and buy a used one for less than my co-pay would have been and it will be paid for with the MSA. American know-how has solved thousands of problems. Americans are problem solvers and shoppers. Let the people take back health care from the businesses and the bean counters and shop for it themselves...they will create a new system with lower prices and better care. Of course we will need to put some legal changes in like not letting punitive damages go to the plaintif in damage cases. They are already recovering all of their damages and lost wages adjusted for inflation. Punitive damages are supposed to be a fine imposed for outrageously bad decision making undiminished over time. Fines go to the government in charge of the problem NOT the other guy. If there is a real problem the snakebelly level lawyers will have cases they can try; just not cases they can retire on!

Start talking about goverment subsidized MSA's for the truly needy and I'll consider the matter.

momma y:
You said: "If CNN told me the sun rose in the East I'd wait and check it. They are the most liberal network out there, ..."

The truth has a well known liberal bias.

If our "socialized" police, defense, highway etc systems work so well, why wouldn't "socialized" medicine as you call it?

The "Blue Ribbon" crowd wants to tax your way to health and longevity--you are simply too stupid to be accountable and responsible for yourself. And for every tax that they propose, you will lose a comparable amount of your constitutional freedoms.

Its all about we know what's good for you and we know what's right for you, so we will jam our choices down your dumb throats. Its not about "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" for this bunch of displaced communuists and Marxists, its about an iron hammer.

Those pathetic souls who are unable to have sympathy for the plight of the impoverished people of Mexico and other such countries have an unfortunate heart condition that can't be cured with either surgery or medication. Sometimes, the only cure is for the person to have to endure some kind of tragedy in his/her life which sometimes, though certainly not always, opens up those vessels in heart which carry compassion and caring. Unfortunately, there are times when personal tragedy only serves to block those vessels even more.

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