Disclaimers

I intended to make a few disclaimers when this blog was launched in 2009.  Well, the policy issues of the intervening year—particularly health reform/insurance overhaul and HITECH/meaningful use—evolved with such relentless immediacy that I never found a slow news week for covering the “housekeeping details.”  Since I won’t make a prediction on the blogosphere’s current preoccupation, the mid-term elections, now is a good time to pause for three important statements that will put my weekly commentaries in proper perspective.

First, the opinions expressed in this blog do not necessarily represent positions of my employer or any of the clients that hire me as a speaker, writer, or consultant.  I gratefully appreciate the freedom that Xerox and ACS have given me to speak my mind without any censorship.  In return, I feel that any criticism I express in this forum must be constructive.  The senior executives who asked me to do a weekly blog set the tone by naming it “A Healthy Debate.”  My purpose is to express opinions that get readers thinking and contributing to discussion of important topics.  Every post ends with a request for readers to express their opinions, and every response has been published, also without any censorship.  (I truly value the many readers who have added a comment—especially those with different points of view!)

Second, my criticism of one faction’s positions absolutely does not imply support for any other faction’s positions.  I have been consistently critical of the Democratic approach to health reform, but I am equally dismayed by Republican opposition.  Neither party is addressing the tough trade-offs that must be made under new economic circumstances.  I’ll be happy to support a realistic political platform for reform when I see one, regardless of the party that proposes it.

Third, I firmly believe that the United States should and still can create the world’s best health care system.  I am an industry insider, proud of four decades spent as a medical school professor, health policy adviser, and consultant.  I am motivated by visions of a really good health care system—formally structured to do the right thing all the time, as inexpensively as possible.  Sadly, I perceive that most legislative or regulatory efforts do not steer our system toward this goal.  On the other hand, I am excited by good things being done by a growing number of progressive providers, payers, purchasers, and their business partners.  Their partnerships are showing that a good health care system really could be produced with 17% of the GDP. 

What are your disclaimers when you express opinions about the future of American health care?  What vision motivates your thinking about reform?