A Simulated Health Care Reform Presentation

Health Care Health Care

Policy Policy ReformReform

Health Care Health Care ReformReform

Core Core Issues, Matters, and Issues, Matters, and

ConcernsConcerns

U.S. Health Reform

Core IssuesCore IssuesThe following are only a few of the core The following are only a few of the core

ideas that are important to upgrading, ideas that are important to upgrading, improving, or ‘changing’ the present improving, or ‘changing’ the present health care system-health care system-

A Slide ProgramA Slide Program

And a must to any health care reform And a must to any health care reform dialogue.dialogue.

U.S. Health Reform

Humane CareHumane Care1. The first is 1. The first is humane carehumane care, i.e., , i.e.,

* compassionate* compassionate* appropriate health care, * appropriate health care, * with information pertaining to all known * with information pertaining to all known complementary and alternative choices, complementary and alternative choices,

……and should be the right of all citizens of the and should be the right of all citizens of the United States, including pregnant and United States, including pregnant and birthing women, children, people with birthing women, children, people with disabilities, the elderly and those at the disabilities, the elderly and those at the end of life as well as the common voting end of life as well as the common voting aged citizen.aged citizen.

U.S. Health Reform

Promote HealthPromote Health2. Health promotion…. 2. Health promotion…. All true health care in the U.S.A. must All true health care in the U.S.A. must

promote-promote-* health,* health,* fitness, (with access to sources of * fitness, (with access to sources of information and therapies pertaining to information and therapies pertaining to optimal fitness) andoptimal fitness) and* wellness, * wellness,

…….not merely manage disease symptoms..not merely manage disease symptoms.

U.S. Health Reform

Preventive CarePreventive Care 3. Preventive care3. Preventive careThis means more than merely medical screening This means more than merely medical screening

for target symptoms. for target symptoms. True preventive care includes a positive True preventive care includes a positive

program of testing for level of fitness, health, program of testing for level of fitness, health, and wellness,..and wellness,..

It includes citizen’s lifestyle, i.e., community and It includes citizen’s lifestyle, i.e., community and neighborhood ambience, a healthy diet, neighborhood ambience, a healthy diet, exercise, mental and emotional health, and the exercise, mental and emotional health, and the where abouts of natural therapies that actually where abouts of natural therapies that actually support the body’s inherent self-healing support the body’s inherent self-healing powers. powers.

U.S. Health Reform

Freedom Of ChoiceFreedom Of Choice 4. Freedom of Choice…4. Freedom of Choice…True freedom of choice in a reformed health care must True freedom of choice in a reformed health care must

include a full range of freedoms, such as the include a full range of freedoms, such as the freedom of choicefreedom of choice regarding health care regarding health care options; meaning options such as-options; meaning options such as-

* Herbal medicines, Flower essence therapy, * Herbal medicines, Flower essence therapy, * Homeopathy, * Homeopathy, * Hydrotherapy, Fitness therapy, and Massage * Hydrotherapy, Fitness therapy, and Massage

therapies, therapies, * Acupuncture and * Acupuncture and …….other innovative natural therapies should all be .other innovative natural therapies should all be

freely available in any health care program. Each freely available in any health care program. Each individual citizen should be free to choose from the individual citizen should be free to choose from the full spectrum of health care modalities, without full spectrum of health care modalities, without interference from the any government restricting interference from the any government restricting particular methods.particular methods.

U.S. Health Reform

Diversity of OptionsDiversity of Options5. A diversity of health care options,…5. A diversity of health care options,…especially those that are ---especially those that are ---

* Wholistic,* Wholistic,* Preventative,* Preventative,* Promotional in nature, and…* Promotional in nature, and…

…….would provide a richer more advanced nation,.would provide a richer more advanced nation,…….diversity in options would actually lower our .diversity in options would actually lower our

nation’s cost for providing universal coverage nation’s cost for providing universal coverage and result in a far healthier U.S. population.and result in a far healthier U.S. population.

U.S. Health Reform

Needs of ChildrenNeeds of Children

6. The needs of children must be championed,…6. The needs of children must be championed,…The needs of children in any comprehensive health The needs of children in any comprehensive health

care system are of particular concern with the care system are of particular concern with the increasing use of pharmaceutical drugsincreasing use of pharmaceutical drugs

This necessitates more preventative measures This necessitates more preventative measures such assuch as

* Good diet, * Health and fitness counseling and * Good diet, * Health and fitness counseling and * Fail safe assistance for at risk-children, and…* Fail safe assistance for at risk-children, and…* A full spectrum of deliberate educational * A full spectrum of deliberate educational

programs that include health orientated-artistic programs that include health orientated-artistic expression, physical exercise and creative play.expression, physical exercise and creative play.

U.S. Health Reform

Lunch ProgramsLunch Programs 7. School Lunch Programs need major reform,…7. School Lunch Programs need major reform,…

Our national school lunch program needs a reformation Our national school lunch program needs a reformation that includes increased funding. that includes increased funding.

* We need a federal mandate to provide the best of fresh * We need a federal mandate to provide the best of fresh and vital regional natural foods that support local and vital regional natural foods that support local farmers and their communities, farmers and their communities,

* Quality control system to cull poor quality corporate * Quality control system to cull poor quality corporate farm foods that are currently used for these programs. farm foods that are currently used for these programs.

* Also, we need auxiliary teaching courses to augment * Also, we need auxiliary teaching courses to augment present curriculums for advancing healthy food habits present curriculums for advancing healthy food habits to our children and given a priority for all age groups to to our children and given a priority for all age groups to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity and diabetes.combat the epidemic of childhood obesity and diabetes.

U.S. Health Reform

Control of ToxicityControl of Toxicity 8. Special efforts for the Control of Toxicity,…8. Special efforts for the Control of Toxicity,…

* Household, business, school, personal goods and toys, * Household, business, school, personal goods and toys, should receive even closer inspection related to the should receive even closer inspection related to the products of health care, home health care, and hospital products of health care, home health care, and hospital care, and…care, and…

* The use of mandatory childhood and other vaccinations * The use of mandatory childhood and other vaccinations

(i.e., HPV, flu, etc.) should be more closely examined, as (i.e., HPV, flu, etc.) should be more closely examined, as increasingly there are vaccine reactions with tragic increasingly there are vaccine reactions with tragic consequences and with great impact on the health care consequences and with great impact on the health care system. system.

* CDC should more closely monitor vaccine reactions * CDC should more closely monitor vaccine reactions include vaccine-induced neuroimmune dysfunction, include vaccine-induced neuroimmune dysfunction, including chronic inflammation. Additionally, there can including chronic inflammation. Additionally, there can be grave ill-effects from toxic components added to be grave ill-effects from toxic components added to vaccines.vaccines.

U.S. Health Reform

Mental HealthMental Health 9. Mental health care should include more 9. Mental health care should include more

options,…options,…Mental health care should include a lot more Mental health care should include a lot more

of a wholistic orientation with requirements of a wholistic orientation with requirements to make more of a variety of choices to to make more of a variety of choices to anyone experiencing mental illness of any anyone experiencing mental illness of any kind, kind,

* Providing a range of safe, * Providing a range of safe, * Supportive care services * Supportive care services * Particularly if one were to choose not to use * Particularly if one were to choose not to use

pharmaceutical medications.pharmaceutical medications.

Psychiatric, psychosocial, and “all natural” Psychiatric, psychosocial, and “all natural” care should be made available for access to care should be made available for access to and clearly distinguished. and clearly distinguished.

U.S. Health Reform

Citizen InputCitizen Input 10. All health care should have citizen input.10. All health care should have citizen input.

Disease management is expensive and profitable for the Disease management is expensive and profitable for the drug companies, insurance companies and medical drug companies, insurance companies and medical specialists. specialists.

* Primary, preventive, and promotional care as wholistic * Primary, preventive, and promotional care as wholistic care is cost-effective and leads to a healthier U.S. care is cost-effective and leads to a healthier U.S. population. population.

* Ordinary U.S. citizens need to be able to input into the * Ordinary U.S. citizens need to be able to input into the community-based organizations that represent them. community-based organizations that represent them. Citizens should have a vital and authoritative role in Citizens should have a vital and authoritative role in any new health care system. any new health care system.

These new programs should be more comprehensive or These new programs should be more comprehensive or wholistic and even faith-based operated and not be wholistic and even faith-based operated and not be designed to funnel billions of dollars into a high-designed to funnel billions of dollars into a high-overhead, for-profit health care industry.overhead, for-profit health care industry.

U.S. Health Reform

PrescriptionsPrescriptions 11. Prescriptions must be altered to have a new meaning.11. Prescriptions must be altered to have a new meaning.

The control of prescription authority need a serious The control of prescription authority need a serious revamping or ‘change’…revamping or ‘change’…

* Many primary care doctors over-prescribe invasive * Many primary care doctors over-prescribe invasive procedures and testing out of fear of being sued by procedures and testing out of fear of being sued by patients or their families, thus unnecessarily driving up patients or their families, thus unnecessarily driving up health care costs, and often resulting in additional health health care costs, and often resulting in additional health complications.complications.

* Prescription authority should be required for all co-* Prescription authority should be required for all co-commitment health care professionals especially for commitment health care professionals especially for health promotion, prevention strategies, and natural health promotion, prevention strategies, and natural therapy providers, and… therapy providers, and…

* Our national health care program should not award * Our national health care program should not award financial incentives for the use of unnecessary and financial incentives for the use of unnecessary and invasive medical procedures neglecting complimentary invasive medical procedures neglecting complimentary and alternative medicine.and alternative medicine.

U.S. Health Reform

Health Care Health Care Financial SecurityFinancial Security

12. Financing health care access and treatment, …12. Financing health care access and treatment, …

As a matter of social justice every U.S. citizen should As a matter of social justice every U.S. citizen should have access to basic health care regardless of financial have access to basic health care regardless of financial status. status.

* If universal coverage is delivered it must be in a way * If universal coverage is delivered it must be in a way that will not endanger the economic health of the that will not endanger the economic health of the country. country.

* Cost containment must include herbal farmers of the * Cost containment must include herbal farmers of the U.S., a more wholistic approach to care and not simply U.S., a more wholistic approach to care and not simply a matter of eliminating waste and profiteering . a matter of eliminating waste and profiteering .

* This also requires a serious de-emphasis on high-tech * This also requires a serious de-emphasis on high-tech "sickness care" with a new emphasis on payment "sickness care" with a new emphasis on payment towards prevention, natural therapies, and health towards prevention, natural therapies, and health promotion.promotion.

U.S. Health Reform

Environmental Environmental HealthHealth

13. Environmental health and ecological balance rules 13. Environmental health and ecological balance rules and regulations, including land use laws and food and regulations, including land use laws and food growth...growth...

Health care reform requires strict environmental rules to Health care reform requires strict environmental rules to reduce toxins and pollutants in our environment and reduce toxins and pollutants in our environment and the promotion of….the promotion of….

* “Clean” energy* “Clean” energy* Creative solar, wind, hydro-energies, and other ideas,* Creative solar, wind, hydro-energies, and other ideas,* Hygienic-automobile industry, joint international clean * Hygienic-automobile industry, joint international clean

water improvement projects i.e., U.S.-Mexico, U.S.-water improvement projects i.e., U.S.-Mexico, U.S.-Mexico, etc. Mexico, etc.

……must have full support from the U.S. government must have full support from the U.S. government authorities and optimal and fair tax incentive support.authorities and optimal and fair tax incentive support.

U.S. Health Reform

Agricultural PolicyAgricultural Policy14. True health care reform depends on reforming our agriculture 14. True health care reform depends on reforming our agriculture

policy, to;policy, to;

* Promote truly healthy, …* Promote truly healthy, …* Whole foods, herbs, and ‘certified organic,’ attested to as ‘clean’ * Whole foods, herbs, and ‘certified organic,’ attested to as ‘clean’

grown, and grown, and * Sustainable farm and gardening nursery practices. * Sustainable farm and gardening nursery practices.

It is estimated that more than two out of every three Americans are It is estimated that more than two out of every three Americans are overweight and consume one of the worst diets in the world, one that overweight and consume one of the worst diets in the world, one that makes our nation both overfed and undernourished. A health care makes our nation both overfed and undernourished. A health care reform or ‘change’ program must include integration with a reform or ‘change’ program must include integration with a revitalized agricultural policy at all levels. revitalized agricultural policy at all levels. 

For example, high fructose corn syrup, a major contributor to the For example, high fructose corn syrup, a major contributor to the epidemic of diabetes, is added to numerous processed foods and is epidemic of diabetes, is added to numerous processed foods and is subsidized and promoted through billions of dollars of taxpayers subsidized and promoted through billions of dollars of taxpayers subsidies to corn farmers through the current Farm Bill. Another subsidies to corn farmers through the current Farm Bill. Another example of the need for an overhaul of our agricultural policy is the example of the need for an overhaul of our agricultural policy is the increasing rate of allergies and hyperactivity in children that has been increasing rate of allergies and hyperactivity in children that has been traced definitively in numerous scientific studies to chemical traced definitively in numerous scientific studies to chemical contamination in our food supply as well as the over-use of additives contamination in our food supply as well as the over-use of additives and preservatives.and preservatives.

U.S. Health Reform

Truth in Truth in InformationInformation

15. Health care reform means truth in 15. Health care reform means truth in information---which would include ending information---which would include ending medical discrimination against wholistic medical discrimination against wholistic health practices and natural health health practices and natural health supplements, to allow supplements, to allow truthful health truthful health informationinformation to be freely given in regard to to be freely given in regard to the health benefits of natural remedies, to the health benefits of natural remedies, to allow holistic health practitioners to freely allow holistic health practitioners to freely practice without fear of prosecution.practice without fear of prosecution.

U.S. Health Reform

Insurance Insurance ReimbursementsReimbursements

16. True health reform would include 16. True health reform would include government and government-regulated government and government-regulated insurance reimbursement programs.insurance reimbursement programs.

These government assisted programs must These government assisted programs must fully cover licensed wholistic or holistic fully cover licensed wholistic or holistic practitioners such as Chiropractors, practitioners such as Chiropractors, Naturopaths, acupuncturists, homeopaths Naturopaths, acupuncturists, homeopaths and Herbalists, CAM (Complimentary and and Herbalists, CAM (Complimentary and Alternative Medicine practitioners, and Alternative Medicine practitioners, and Medical Doctors who are integrated with Medical Doctors who are integrated with natural therapy providers and allow natural therapy providers and allow hospitals and clinics to have full access to hospitals and clinics to have full access to their services and treatments.their services and treatments.

U.S. Health Reform

Research FundingResearch Funding 17. Research funding for the National Center 17. Research funding for the National Center

for Complementary and Alternative for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (National Institutes of Health) Medicine (National Institutes of Health) should be massively increased to include;...should be massively increased to include;...

* Integrative medical doctors working with * Integrative medical doctors working with medical workers in territories outside of the medical workers in territories outside of the continental U.S.continental U.S.

* Institutes who secure areas in other * Institutes who secure areas in other countries where U.S. interests in botanical countries where U.S. interests in botanical plants, herbs, exist or potentially exist.plants, herbs, exist or potentially exist.

* High tech benign treatments or therapies * High tech benign treatments or therapies that use virtual reality for advancing optimal that use virtual reality for advancing optimal health, protective health, and preventive health, protective health, and preventive health in the interest of national security.health in the interest of national security.

U.S. Health Reform

Integrative MedicineIntegrative MedicineAdvisory PanelAdvisory Panel

18. An Integrative Medicine Advisory panel should be 18. An Integrative Medicine Advisory panel should be functional-functional-

An Integrative Medicine Advisory panel should be should be An Integrative Medicine Advisory panel should be should be created to advise U.S. legislators and policy-makers on created to advise U.S. legislators and policy-makers on ways to bring wholistic or holistic and integrative medicine ways to bring wholistic or holistic and integrative medicine practices into any Health Care Reform legislation that is practices into any Health Care Reform legislation that is drafted. drafted.

Such a panel should draw on the expertise of such Such a panel should draw on the expertise of such organizations as the Preventative Medicine Research organizations as the Preventative Medicine Research Institute (Dr. Dean Ornish), the Osher Center for Institute (Dr. Dean Ornish), the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine (University of California in San Integrative Medicine (University of California in San Francisco), Duke Integrative Medicine Center, The Arizona Francisco), Duke Integrative Medicine Center, The Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine (San Arizona, Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine (San Diego), American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and other Diego), American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and other similar organizations.similar organizations.