Is it me or has it been an exceptionally bizarre few weeks on the health care reform front?
Opponents of health care reform, many of them hired by the insurance lobby, have stepped up their threats in recent days, alleging that congressional plans will mandate such things as death panels, forced abortions and rationed care (like a $5,000 deductible doesn’t ration care already?). And they’ve cranked up the volume on their rants as well, often making it impossible for other voices to be heard at dozens of town hall meetings throughout the country. That’s a shame.
It’s hard to imagine how such outrageous and false claims can continue to show up in the media when they have been debunked time and time again. But the insurance industry is desperately trying to maintain the status quo, and will do and spend whatever it takes.
The real threat in this health care debate will come if the insurance companies succeed and reform efforts fail, putting additional millions of Americans and thousands of small businesses at risk, especially in rural areas.
No question, insurance company plans have failed rural America. They profit by denying care to people and we all pay the price.
We see the effects of this economic rationing today in rural communities, where much of our health care infrastructure has been lost. Without hospitals and clinics, the crisis in affordability has now grown to be a crisis in access as well.
Doing nothing is not an option. Neither is tinkering around with insurance. Nothing short of a new public plan, one that is efficient, moral, and universal will make health care available in rural America. That’s why we’re joining the fight for reform, and asking you to do the same.
Call it a ‘public option.’ Call it ‘Medicare/Medicaid for all.’ Just don’t call it ‘reform’ without it.
