Health Care Hurdle

A major obstacle is developing in the debate over health care in Congress. That obstacle is the issue of abortion. Opponents of abortion are pushing hard to exclude it from coverage under any national health care plan. Abortion proponents are pushing for its inclusion. Obama has taken steps to keep himself above the struggle by stating that, while he is not "trying to sneak in funding for abortion," neither is he trying to restrict insurance "choices" available to women. There are several bills being proposed that seek to untangle abortion coverage from the national health insurance plans under discussion.

At the core of this struggle, as with so many others, is the issue of federal money. Government comes with government money. Politics come with government. If federal money is going to be used in any health insurance reform, then politics will be unavoidable. Neither the government, nor the people, are going to be satisfied by simply creating a national health care plan. They are going to demand influence, if not control over its coverage and policies. There are many interested parties in the health care debate. Some have financial interests, some have political interests, some have medical interests, and some have personal interests. These different interests, and the conflicts they engender, are inherent in any plan proposed by government. More importantly, these are issues that are never "solved" because they are always in motion. Even if Congress somehow manages to assemble and pass a bill that can appease and satisfy enough people, and thereby garner their support, any consensus reached will not be permanent because interests and issues change. Sex change operations, euthanasia, and cosmetic surgery all loom on the horizon. Each new issue will generate new conflict and require a new consensus.

It is assumed (or perhaps just hoped), that in time, national health care, if passed, will simply blend into the economic and social landscape and thereby become part of our political furniture. Controversies will fade, as will the hard feelings that preceded and followed its passage. But there is little chance this hope will be realized for two reasons. The first is, health care is a much more emotional and personal issue that affects far more people more deeply than other government programs such as food stamps or social security ever will. Unlike most federal programs, national health care will be an issue that will affect all Americans throughout their lives. Countless accidents, illnesses, and mishaps, bring nearly every American into contact with the health care industry at one point or another. The convenience, cost, and quality of that care will be the critical measures of public satisfaction with it. And, so far, we have only the administration and its supporters' word that we will be satisfied.

Secondly, health care is a dynamic industry. New medicines, techniques, procedures, and tests, are constantly being developed and improved. The medical and pharmacology industries move at a much quicker pace than the government could ever hope to. Bureaucrats have never been able to keep pace with society. They are even more outmatched by science and technology. The inertia and inefficiency of government will ensure the gap between technology and policy is never closed.

The current controversy over abortion is but one example of the political consequences that can be expected under any federal health care plan. But there are other issues as well. Many issues actually.