Health Care Reform----A Hard Yet Encouraging Step Forward That We Expect

04-03

Health care reform, a recurring issue being debated for the past decades is now ready

for a new round of serious negotiation. This month, 48 delegates from the two

parties and interest groups who hold their diverse yet realistic views on the

topic, will sit inside the chamber of Finance Senate, with an aim to achieve a

universal progress, and hopefully make the country greater than ever.

At the first glance, the problem seems to be tough and thorny in its great depth

and breadth. 「Essentially, there is a reason why we discuss health care issues

in Senate Committee of Finance.」 Senator of Virginia that concerns like

inefficiency high expenses and low coverage are fatal issues in the health care

system tells the writer. In addition, as the third-party of businesses engaging

in the committee, economic solutions are reminded equally as important as those

of political.

「It』s complicated.」 Commented Senator of New Jersey on the same topic. As one of the

most populous and economically prosperous state in the US, it partially relies

on the industry of pharmaceuticals. Thus, the government-dominated Obamacare,

which regulated prices of medicines, has been a restriction to their

development.

The good news is, both parties are pondering over the matter, while preparing to

introduce bills on the conference. 「Every individuals and corporation now look

forward to new policies that could attain the balance between each aspect, and

the key is to cut down the cost as well as to reduce waste.」 Suggested Senator

of Virginia as a democrat, 「once the prices are lowered, the coverage of health

insurance will increase, thus to approach a universal health care system.」 He

also shared some insights on the original health care, 「it is no doubt

problematic, but government adjustment and regulating is necessary all the time

to make the health care affordable for all people.」 In terms of what 「necessary

regulating」 specifically means, we look forward to his performance on the

succeeding conference.

Senator Republican of Pennsylvania also claimed similar concepts, however, in a

different way. As the health care expenses in the state going up 120% in recent

years, he stressed, 「there are severe problems must be handled, and we must

carry out a thorough improvement.」 During the interview, he also shows

disappointment toward the failure of Obamacare and the recent setback of

president Trump who tried to repeal the former policy of ACA. Speaking of

measures to preform, he answered without hesitation, 「Transparency. It』s

critical to have a transparent market of insurance where business competitions

are encouraged and monopoly is eliminated. Therefore, people can choose for the

insurance that they need, which also benefits the market the other way around.」

He then added, 「we call for a consumer-directed health care, in which prices are

controlled and a sustainable system will be built. After then, could we only

head to universal health care.」

Nevertheless, delegates from both parties showed confidence in settling down the problems despite the diversity of ideas. Senator Democratic from Virginia especially

raised his voice at the end of our interview, 「I foresee some dilemmas we will

possibly drag ourselves into, I mean both us, both parties. We may carry out

adaption and further improvement, and compromise is acceptable, since we shall

all strive for the same purpose after all, in other words, for the interests of

all and the country.」 These days, it is common to feel this kind of work

arduous and impossible. His words, though, is like silver lining which

encourages me to walk on, in this conference; and to wait for a possible

icebreaking moment when a step forward could be made and the expectation of all

could be met.

Yijian Guan

New York Times