PROMISES, PROMISES: Indian health care needs unmet

[AlHayatZween 2]

It really makes me sad that we can't get this healthcare thing straightened out. And after hearing Obama address the AMA, i don't think it's ever going to get straightened out...

It's not just about the Indians, or poor people, it's about all of us who aren't billionaires. There's another thread on here about a wife of an army vet who can't get coverage for her pregnancy b/c it's a pre-existing condition... Another acquaintance of mine said the hospital billed her $4,000 for an epidural for an emergency Caesarean. These are not poor people... these are regular tax payers....

Government may not be the answer, but neither are big insurance giants dictating what services can be rendered to whom for how much...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It really makes me sad that we can't get this healthcare thing straightened out. And after hearing Obama address the AMA, i don't think it's ever going to get straightened out...

It's not just about the Indians, or poor people, it's about all of us who aren't billionaires. There's another thread on here about a wife of an army vet who can't get coverage for her pregnancy b/c it's a pre-existing condition... Another acquaintance of mine said the hospital billed her $4,000 for an epidural for an emergency Caesarean. These are not poor people... these are regular tax payers....

Government may not be the answer, but neither are big insurance giants dictating what services can be rendered to whom for how much...

What is really laughable is that while there is all this talk on here about the evils of socialized government run healthcare (a la Europe, Canada, Australia) this is totally NOT what is being proposed by government.

[AlHayatZween 2]

It really makes me sad that we can't get this healthcare thing straightened out. And after hearing Obama address the AMA, i don't think it's ever going to get straightened out...

It's not just about the Indians, or poor people, it's about all of us who aren't billionaires. There's another thread on here about a wife of an army vet who can't get coverage for her pregnancy b/c it's a pre-existing condition... Another acquaintance of mine said the hospital billed her $4,000 for an epidural for an emergency Caesarean. These are not poor people... these are regular tax payers....

Government may not be the answer, but neither are big insurance giants dictating what services can be rendered to whom for how much...

What is really laughable is that while there is all this talk on here about the evils of socialized government run healthcare (a la Europe, Canada, Australia) this is totally NOT what is being proposed by government.

Yes, that is what is so incredibly mind-boggling about the whole thing!

[Peikko 1,575]

Yes Charles, that really makes you look good, using the tragic situation of the native American populations to try to prevent other poor people getting health care. What a joke.

right, i could instead have head in rectal defilade syndrome and not understand how the disaster of government health care to a poor minority could be repeated to other poor people getting health care.

a joke indeed, this health care system........and the poor are not laughing.

Let me get this straight now. You care about poor minorities? You have their best interests at heart? What do you suggest would be good for them exactly? What private health care plan is going to work for these people? Or, are you just interested in 'jerking off' the librul poodle ####?

are you a librul poodle ####?

Am I being 'jerked off'? Spinning circles...

if you are, then there's more to you than we thought......

In the OP's article it clearly suggests:

...Those on reservations qualify for Medicare and Medicaid coverage. But a report by the Government Accountability Office last year found that many American Indians have not applied for those programs because of lack of access to the sign-up process; they often live far away or lack computers. The report said that some do not sign up because they believe the government already has a duty to provide them with health care.

The office of minority health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the Indian Health Service, notes on its Web site that American Indians "frequently contend with issues that prevent them from receiving quality medical care. These issues include cultural barriers, geographic isolation, inadequate sewage disposal and low income."...One of the main problems is that many clinics must "buy" health care from larger medical facilities outside the health service because the clinics are not equipped to handle more serious medical conditions. The money that Congress provides for those contract health care services is rarely sufficient, forcing many clinics to make "life or limb" decisions that leave lower-priority patients out in the cold.

Do I need to connect any more dots here?

sure, you failed to connect this dot.....

The U.S. has an obligation, based on a 1787 agreement between tribes and the government, to provide American Indians with free health care on reservations. But that promise has not been kept. About one-third more is spent per capita on health care for felons in federal prison, according to 2005 data from the health service.

Ah yes, so in fact your response is, "I really don't give a #### about minorities, I just can't stand big government so no matter what the consequences are, I"ll slag it off". No surprises here.

nice dodge. funny how you won't address that part of the op. i guess you've changed from full speed ahead to deploying ad hominems.

Charles, with you it's just a game. You are baiting, I know it, you know it. I choose to play along for a while until I get bored. Nothing new.

[natty bumppo 297]

any thoughts on the story - like how it relates to government provided health care?

I guess if you've already got your mind made up about a subject, you're going to see whatever conclussions you want to.

sounds like you're already there....

I'll take unsupported assumptions for $2000 Alex......

what is epic fail? (hint: see above ^)

OK failed troll, back to your bridge with your failed logic.

have you know seen the conclusions you want to see ...

No, unlike you I haven't made up my mind based upon the misinformation out there. I'm still waiting to see both sides present their cases for and against with credible information and not inuendo from commentors. See, thats how logical decisions are made.

I wouldn't waste my time if I were you - Natty just showed up to be a #######.

Not one single post of his in this thread addresses the topic - so its safe to say that his "contributions" can be written off for distracting garbage and lame bait.

I see the vj wordsmithies have returned to share their juvenile name calling vocabulary again

Lets first address a single point in this article ...

has the gov't upheld on it's 200+ year promise/ commitment to the tribes in this matter. answer should be simple ... yes or no?

if no ... then why not? and what will be different from a "new and improved" version for everyone?

(hint: this new version will be for the general population ... not a small subset of the general population)

if yes ... show proof that the health care needs for the tribes are being met.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Yes, watch it with the name calling. It adds nothing to the discussion and is totally unnecessary.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Natty - this has to be the most lame reasoning ever.

Totally discounting the unique problems that affect Native Americans, their under-representation in our political structure and the cultural barriers and practical barriers separating them from the rest of the country (all of this is addressed in the article BTW), there is no commonality between the deficient implementation of a legacy program based on a 200+ year old treaty to proposed healthcare reforms for the majority.

And again - European style "socialized" healthcare is not what is currently being proposed (nor is it what Obama proposed during the election campaign) so arguing against it is somewhat pointless.

Edited June 16, 2009 by Private Pike

[AlHayatZween 2]

the healthcare needs for tribes are not being met.

the healthcare needs for a lot of people are not being met. not just poor, disenfranchized people... but regular, working people as well.

so the system we have now is not working either.

[Peikko 1,575]

Geographically isolated populations are badly served in ALL systems. Sadly, most of those getting less than adequate care are in geographically isolated situations. Private health care wouldn't touch this with a barge pole.

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

Charles, with you it's just a game. You are baiting, I know it, you know it. I choose to play along for a while until I get bored. Nothing new.

and still, more avoidance of the question - nothing new there, i suppose i should be used to it by now. i'm still waiting for those dots to be connected. here, lemme draw you a picture.

. <------------> .

the healthcare needs for tribes are not being met.

the healthcare needs for a lot of people are not being met. not just poor, disenfranchized people... but regular, working people as well.

so the system we have now is not working either.

and yet, the government made a treaty to provide that and the government has fallen short. that, in essence, is the story. yet, some claim we need a government run health care........

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Geographically isolated populations are badly served in ALL systems. Sadly, most of those getting less than adequate care are in geographically isolated situations. Private health care wouldn't touch this with a barge pole.

Much the same with Australian aborigines - much to BY's Chagrin.

Though there are similarities with people living in rural India, China, Bangladesh etc.

[natty bumppo 297]

Geographically isolated populations are badly served in ALL systems. Sadly, most of those getting less than adequate care are in geographically isolated situations. Private health care wouldn't touch this with a barge pole.

Much the same with Australian aborigines - much to BY's Chagrin.

Though there are similarities with people living in rural India, China, Bangladesh etc.

the needs can be met when the responsible organization honors the commitment and applies the required resources (ie. health care for remote service deployment). what is to stop the gov't from fulfilling it's promise? politics maybe (under-representation) ... greed?

[AlHayatZween 2]

the healthcare needs for tribes are not being met.

the healthcare needs for a lot of people are not being met. not just poor, disenfranchized people... but regular, working people as well.

so the system we have now is not working either.

and yet, the government made a treaty to provide that and the government has fallen short. that, in essence, is the story. yet, some claim we need a government run health care........

yes, got that point from the article.

but we are being failed on all sides. this healthcare issue is going to break us.

[Peikko 1,575]

Tell me Natty, how exactly would private health care address a geographically isolated, extremely poor population and provide adequate, better yet excellent care?

[The_Dude 1,142]