President Obama Calls for Healthcare Reform

Citing the growing costs of healthcare on the federal fiscal situation, individual patients and families, small businesses and US global competitivness, President Obama last night called for a renewed focus on healthcare reform.

Home healthcare, when delivered effectively is the preferred way for Americans to receive their care, remains the most cost efficient care delivery model, and continues to be the slowest growing portion of overall federal healthcare spending.  Any and all reform must contain provisions to strengthen the safety net that home healthcare provides our communities and cannot be allowed to be hijacked by the special interests and big business concerns who have so often shaped policy decisions for this country. 

President Obama accurately cites healthcare costs as a key factor in small business failures; as such the exercise cannot be simply about providing coverage for more Americans, it has to be about reforming the entire system - from prevention and wellness, to care delivery, to reimbursement - every facet must be addressed if we are to move forward with a healthcare system that is sustainable, competitive, comprehensive, and fiscally reasonable.

I look forward to seeing the place that home healthcare occupies in the discussion; it is an industry which is made up of predominantly small, community based businesses and organizations, a factor which doesn't traditionally lend itself to being heard in the corridors of our nations capitol.  The coming weeks and months will be telling, as we see what is proposed, who will benefit, and what our new system will look like.  I will do what I always do when I analyze these things; try to follow the money and see where it leads - in the past it has been a frustrating exercise, I hope this time we see change...there it is "Hope" and "Change" in the same sentence - we shall see!