Letters: Work productively on health reform
Iconic art for Spin Cycle article on Physicians Reciprocal Insurance political contributions. Credit: iStock
I think most fair-minded people would agree that our health-care system must be improved, but to accomplish this, liberals and conservatives must work together ["Balancing Act: Bleeding us dry," Editorial, Nov. 14].
Some basic parameters should be that we don't want a "Canadian type" program where citizens wait for necessary tests, we are not about to take away the role of insurance companies, and we want all of our citizens covered.
To accomplish this, we must 1) solve the malpractice problem and put a cap on awards; 2) make insurance companies compete; 3) allow insurance companies to operate across state lines; 4) if there is to be a public option, the government should not operate so as to put insurance companies out of business; and 5) the public should be educated about the value of hospice care as a substitute for what is now often a fruitless and painful end-of-life course.
I believe that a single-payer system would work well, but it should be provided as a separate program in each state. This would allow flexibility for states to best cater to their populations' needs, and also remove the issue of health care legislation from federal hands.
With any luck, removing this controversial topic would help settle at least a fraction of the party warfare in Congress.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 38: State champions On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra, Michael Sicoli and Tess Ferguson recap the the state championships in baseball, boys and girls lacrosse, plus Jared Valuzzi has the plays of the week.
