Blog Debate: Final Word on Costs

by Jason Rosenbaum · 2009-03-11 20:26:00 UTC
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Editor's Note:  Joining us this week for a blog debate about what approach we should take on health care reform in 2009 will be Dr. Don McCanne, a retired family physician now serving as Senior Health Policy Fellow for Physicians for a National Health Program, and Jason Rosenbaum, a writer and activist, and the Deputy Director of Online Campaigns for Health Care for America Now! Dr. McCanne will be presenting the "single-payer" point of view, and Mr. Rosenbaum will be presenting the "public competitor" point of view.  I will be moderating and asking questions to both of our experts-- including a question that was submitted by one of you!

This rebuttal is in response to the question: “How does your solution help us get the runaway train that is the cost of health care in this country under control?”

Read Jason Rosenbaum's original answer to this question.

Read Dr. McCanne's response.

The argument that single-payer health care would be more efficient is a straw man. Both health care reform plans would increase efficiencies and save a great deal of money. But only one can get 60 votes in the Senate. It may not be "fair" to include the morally bankrupt health insurance industry as part of a health care overhaul, but considering they represent 1/6th of our economy, it's not realistic to talk about legislating them out of existence overnight. A public health insurance option open to everyone would be a giant step forward for our country, save billions of dollars per year, and fundamentally reform our health care system. We must remember to not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Jason Rosenbaum
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