<p>Today there is a push for government to expand health care coverage for all individuals in the United States. There are concerns we will be losing the best medical care in the world. It’s very true that if you are extremely ill, or injured, the United States is where you want to be. Doctors perform miracles here every day. We have all the resources for research and implementation of health related concerns.</p>
<p>Who pays for that and why is there a debate? The Human Papilloma Virus is a good example.</p>
<p>It has been determined that cervical cancer is caused by a virus. We now have a vaccine for young adult women that will reduce the risks. The research was paid for by a drug company who in turn developed the vaccine. HPV, as it’s called is a sexually transmitted disease. Ortho, the weed killer people, pays for a big chunk of medical research. It has always struck me as odd that a chemical company that’s main business is to kill stuff is the one who sponsors miracle cures, or prevention.</p>
<p>Clinical trials are more than the FDA seeing if a drug is safe, and effective. Patterns emerge over the course of time. Every for profit care or cure entity is looking for a way to help.</p>
<p>Statistics showed that cervical cancer was rampant in free clinics. The procedure used to be to snip off the end of the cervix. They tried freezing it. Then they tried a wide variety of treatments. Prevention became a focus. The virus was isolated, tested, and killed so a vaccine was possible. Some viruses are extremely resistant.</p>
<p>HPV, or the pattern of HPV, was found in our free clinic system. Cases mounted over the years, but when doctors in affluent communities began researching symptoms in healthy upper income patients they found the pattern of HPV. There is a class debate that is another red herring in the issues of health care. Disease, viruses, bugs in general will migrate no matter what. There are no lines or barriers.</p>
<p>In this case the vaccine is simple and can readily be made available to every one. The demand is so high that the research and development is more than paid for by providing a cure to the population. Every body makes money and a prevention is now given to the world.</p>
<p>Without the profit return would the vaccine ever be developed? Who paid for the development of the vaccine?</p>
<p>You may notice, but probably not, that your health insurance premiums aren’t mentioned. You don’t pay for the research and development of a cure until you need it. Then it becomes how many people need it. Is there enough demand for a cure of the disease to warrant research? Is there enough awareness to get a cure? Is your heart by pass surgery going to be a benefit to the general population?</p>
<p>Actually our government administers all the high risk medicine already by Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Administration, free clinics, pre natal care, and medical coupons. Your health insurance premiums cover a larger portion of your demographic which is in the manageable health risk group. You pay for the cures by providing profit.</p>
<p>Let me put this in perspective for you because there is a point here. HPV killed women for years. There was no cure, no research, and no interest for decades. The process was long; the trials took many years, almost a decade, and the vaccine was suspect until proven effective. Viagra on the other hand was on the market in a matter of years. You paid for fast tracking penile dysfunction while women died. Some thing is wrong with that picture.</p>
<p>Heart by pass surgery, is a common cure for men over fifty. There is a reason for that medical miracle and it has to do with who does the research. Guys over fifty do the vast majority of research.</p>
<p>Now for the plug: there are thousands of diseases in this country that will never get funded by drug companies; there is no profit incentive. There are thousands of health concerns that will never see the light of day and will stay in the free clinic system. Treatment will be tried for years, like HPV, until it reaches a more affluent demographic. In other words we treat epidemics rather than concern. It is crisis management in the extreme.</p>
<p>We all run businesses. How much does it cost to fix something that has gone wrong compared to preventing it?</p>
<p>We have a cumbersome system right now for addressing concerns. Doctors have been frustrated for years about threats they are aware of. Treatments are approved for years that address symptoms rather than cures. By expanding coverage we can address concerns more readily. Researchers can have more access and be given ability to find cures.</p>
<p>A one system of health care will level the playing field. We may lose the fast tracking of Viagra, but maybe save lives in the process. </p>
2009-08-20T05:26:28Z
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2009-08-21T07:00:29Z
2009-08-21T05:42:36Z
Where the dollars come from to pay for your benefits.
Paying for Health Care
1
2009-08-21T05:42:36Z