We almost never blog about opinion articles, but the recent op-ed by Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius got our attention.
Not so much in the way she spoke of reform, as most of her main bullets were the same talking points we’ve already heard from the Obama Adminstration, but it was a quote made by a Republican Senator.
Secretary Seblius quoted the unammed Senator, “If we’re able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him. ”
It gets us thinking that this health reform debate isn’t being fueled by what will be better for the health system and, more importantly, the American people, but instead driven by political games.
Now, obviously Secretary Sebelius is in the Obama Adminstration and her op-ed will reflect that bias. But looking at her points, it’s hard to deny there’s some frightening political calculation happening.
So what are the real motivations here? Is it that Republicans and Democrats only see health reform as an opportunity to score political points?
We really hope not. This health care and health insurance reform bill will be one of the most important health-related legislative actions since the creation of Medicare.
At the Coverage Corner, our purpose isn’t to lobby anything, but we do have the responsibility to say that lawmakers have to get this right.
Whether you have no health insurance, some health insurance, individual health insurance, or employer-sponsored group health insurance, the decisions being made in Washington will affect us all. Every one of us will need access to health care at some point in our lives.
We’re not saying there’s not a required debate that has to happen — and is happening right now — but it should be based on finding better policy, rather than better politics.
So our plea to all lawmakers: Please put politics aside and get the bill right the first time.
We’re all in this together.