Posted on 03.08.10 by Sharon Lin, DO

"Let's Seize Reform. It's Within Our Grasp!!!" - President Obama

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to go to Sacramento and learn more about the health care reform debate from Lori Heim, MD, the president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.  Unlike the daily articles that focused on the feud between Democrats and Republicans, I had a chance to learn about the details of the House, Senate, and president's health care reform proposals. 

Health care reform needs to happen, no question about that. What I didn't know was whether these proposed reforms would actually help Americans become healthier.  Isn't HEALTH the bottom line?  The US ranks 37^th in the world on health outcomes, according to the World Health Organization, while spending twice the percent of GDP than any of the developed nations.  For nearly 40 million Americans, our health care system is nonexistent piecemeal at best, as if this were a developing world.  What a shame.

After hashing out the details of the proposals, I've concluded that I want Congress to pass their health care reform NOW.  Why? Because I believe this reform will create a healthier America, a smarter America, a more cost-effective America, and a more just America.

Coverage, health promotion and disease prevention, Medical Homes for everyone, insurance market limitations, affordability, access. All these things need to happen with an initial $100 billion per year investment for a $1 trillion per decade savings.  What I want to see from reform is the opportunity for ALL Americans to have a better quality of life through good healthy living so we all can live our BEST life. 

That is why I am STANDING UP for Health Care Reform.  It needs to happen NOW.