I, as you are watching the national debate about healthcare with great interest.  We all know the health care symstem in this country is broken and need to be fixed.    As we watch this continued debate I do know there are steps that can be taken here in Missouri to provide more health care for our citizens at no cost to the tax payer.  The healthier we are the less cost we will have.

A common belief in our country is that uninsured people can go to the emergency room and receive care “because no-one is turned away!”  A lot of people unknowingly have high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart trouble.  These diseases are known as silent killers.  Many times theses diseases go undiagnosed because those who suffer them don’t seek medical care or have health care insurance.  By the time these patients do have health emergencies and get to the emergency room, the cost of their care is exponentially higher than if they had received ongoing preventive healthcare!  We have many good physicians who donate their time to offer treatment to those who can not pay, but that still does not cover everyone without healthcare.

Currently, forty-seven million Americans do not have any healthcare coverage. The Institute of Medicine reports 22,000 unnecessary deaths every year in America due to lack of health insurance.  The Institute further states that America, over any other country, spends the most on healthcare, yet is the only wealthy industrialized nation that does not insure its citizens.

As a physical therapist, I encounter many problems with our current healthcare system.  I am regularly concerned about patients who have increasing out-of-pocket co-pays, growing deductibles and the denial of services that were once covered by their insurance.  One frequent denial of coverage for my patients is physical therapy services.  I know friends, family, and patients who have healthcare coverage but are no longer able to afford it!

We need a comprehensive healthcare plan that gives people an opportunity to be healthy without forcing anyone to give up the care they have. With the Missouri children's "CHIP" program at ever-increasingly legislative jeopardy, it is time that we do something to institute a public healthcare program for all Missouri's children.

The current system is outdated and undermines the promise of modern medicine.  We need a new system that provides healthcare coverage that is more affordable, more widely available, and supports ongoing medical research.