Health Care Reform, Who is to Blame?

I came across a wonderful article in a magazine of my profession, Dynamic Chiropractic. In it, the author describes several of the problems related to the current health care system.

There are clearly issues on all sides of the question. Doctors have created to the problem, and so have the patients, the insurance companies, and government. The result is a run-away train on a track that ends at the sharp edge of a cliff. If something is not done, the train will without doubt reach the end of the track and crash into the abyss.

The question is, should the train be slowed, or should it be allowed to crash.
Both are painful, and hard to imagine.

If the current system were allowed to continue unchanged, a wreck is the final outcome. But out of the ashes, the health care systems would be re-born, in a new and cleansed state. All parties involved would have to make concessions, and a streamlined and new system would emerge.

If reform is instituted, perhaps the train can be slowed, but would the reform be strong and stern enough and applied in the right areas in order to flip the switch and move the train onto a totally different track, or would it simply slow the train and delay the painful unavoidable end?

I believe that the best option is strong reform that doesn't result in a government universal health system. Rules should be put in place that prevent the expensive and discriminatory practices within the industry on all sides. The insurance company officers and administrators should not be allowed to glean the financial benefits awarded the insurance companies by cutting coverages and increasing premiums. There are too many hands in the cookie jar, and I am not talking about the doctors.

There also needs to be tort reform. Doctors cannot be expected to make good, logical decisions regarding tests and examinations if they are constantly under fear of lawsuit. The practice of medicine requires judgment calls, and when the doctor is working in fear of reprisal, he/she will order questionable tests simply so that they can defend themselves in court with the argument that "they did everything that they could", even if the tests were illogical.

Reform is painful, and difficult. Part of me feels that the train wreck is the best option, even though it would likely mean the demise of my practice and others like it. But then again, the recently passed law, I believe, simply will augment the current problems by creating an even larger and heavier middle man. I hope that I am wrong. There are only so many cookies in the cookie jar.