by William L. Henrich, MD, MACP
In his inaugural address exactly one year ago this
month, William Hinchey, MD, the current president
of the Texas Medical Association (TMA),
stated that “despite several meaningful legislative
and regulatory successes, many challenges remain
before us as we struggle to continue that same critical
mission to improve the health of all Texans.”
I think that every physician in Texas would agree
with Dr. Hinchey on this point.
One year later, we face many of the same issues.
Physicians are caring for the uninsured with little or
no expectation of recovering costs; we are serving an
increasing number of disadvantaged and elderly
patients with inadequate infrastructure to support
them; and we continue to contract with health plans
despite their lack of flexibility to meet the needs of the
physicians and health care professionals they serve.
Dr. Hinchey offers an interesting perspective; he
discusses why “an outside observer might well ask, ‘Why? What makes a group of sane, intelligent men
and women act in ways that are so obviously contrary
to our own self-interest?’ ” He also contends that we
already know the answers. They are: “because of why
we entered this noble profession, because we took an
oath, an oath we hold sacred, to serve, because we
truly believe we have an ethical duty to serve, because
it is all about the patient.”
Physicians are bound to service for patients in tangible
ways. This bond is well-recognized by many
with more mercantile interests, which, in many cases,
leaves physicians as the final safety net in our dysfunctional
health care system.
TMA (www.texmed.org) and the Association of
American Medical Colleges (AAMC) (www.aamc.org)
have focused on these issues, as their Web sites document.
Although organizations such as the Texas
Medical Association Political Action Committee (TEXPAC)
(www.texpac.org), the political arm of TMA,
exist to give its more than 42,000 Texas physicians a
voice in both the state and federal political arenas,
and the AMA (www.ama-assn.org) has tripled its
advertising dollars to promote its campaign for the
uninsured in the midst of the 2008 elections, these
and many other professional health care organizations
have opted to refrain from endorsing any one
candidate or party and becoming involved in the
spectacle that campaigns can become.
The fact is that we do not know the fate of the
presidential elections (or even the outcome of the
Democratic nominee for that matter). There has
been much rhetoric surrounding health care as an
issue in this country, and each perspective presents
interesting viewpoints, which will undoubtedly
affect the socioeconomic circumstances and health
disparities in our region.
Generally speaking, with regard to insurance, the
Republican platform embraces insurance programs
and tax credits to help families pay for coverage and
encourages insurance companies to expand nationally.
The Democratic platform envisions a universal
health plan, with a focus on prevention, managing
chronic conditions, and increasing technology usage.
Both parties agree that lower prices for Medicare’s prescription
drug program should be negotiated by the
federal government, and they also agree on the use of
technology to better facilitate health care information.
It is important that, as practitioners and representatives
of this state and this region, we diligently
research each party’s platform in the context of how
it will assist our patients and the overall health care
of our residents. I have listed a few web sites that
discuss the facts of the health care proposals in various
formats:
• GoHealth: Health Care: America’s Number One
Domestic Issue –
http://www.gohealthinsurance.com/blog/coverage/entry/20070912
• Kaiser Family Foundation: Kaiser Health Tracking
Poll: Election 2008 – August 2007 –
http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/h08_pomr083007pkg.cfm
• Commonwealth Fund: Slowing the Growth of
U.S. Health Care Expenditures: What Are the
Options? – http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=449510
Texas remains home to the highest percentage of
uninsured people in the nation (about 25 percent),
and it is experiencing a rapid rise in its population,
which promises to increase the magnitude of the
problem. As such, our state is at an excellent place to
seriously address these pressing issues. I invite you to
join me in responding to the leading roles physicians
should play in the political discourse over health care.
I urge that you become involved through TMA, AMA,
or a political party. Politicians and the public need to
hear our voices.
Warm regards,
William L. Henrich, MD, MACP
Dean, School of Medicine
Vice President for Medical Affairs
John P. Howe, III, MD, Distinguished
Chair in Health Policy
