Health Care Committee Testimony 
By Pat Crocker

I attended the Jan 12, 2010 public forum on Health Care and was unable to testify due to the time constraints.  I was number 95 on the list.  Please accept my testimony below to help in your decision-making. I would also appreciate acknowledgement of this e-mail so that I know it was received and read.  Thank you in advance for your time.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Thank you for convening this public forum.  I would first like to address the comments made by Senator Sanders at the opening of the forum and earlier statements by Dr. Richter.  Senator Sanders stated that our Healthcare system rates number 37 in the world, and Dr. Richter asserts that our system is broken, despite the fact that we spend a lot of money on healthcare.  I would like to inform you that the study that Sanders refers to is the World Health Organization Study on Healthcare.  Many would be interested to know that the US was penalized in this study because our country does not have progressive enough taxation and that our government does not provide healthcare to all.  The question I have is,  "Should our government provide healthcare, or should it provide the opportunity to pursue healthcare?  These are two different things, and I would contend that the government should not be in the business of providing healthcare to all!  What Senator Sanders did not tell you is that the same study ranked the US number one in areas like responsiveness to patients, confidentiality, availability of doctors and other providers, and respect for patients.  These are variables that I find more important than whether we have socialized healthcare.  I would like to add a few more statistics to this discussion.  These are statistics from the Cato Institute.  When corrected for homicides and accidents, the US is at the top of the list for life expectancy.  The US brings more at-risk pregnancies to term than other country.  Many of these infants die shortly after birth, thus skewing our infant mortality rates.  In other countries, like Germany, they don't even count infants born under 500 grams or 30 cm as "live births" so if those infants die, they are not included in infant mortality rates.  So comparing infant mortality rates from this country to other countries is like comparing apples to oranges.  You would be interested to hear that 18 out of the last 25 winners of the Nobel Peace Prize in medicine were awarded to physicians practicing in this country.  Eighty percent of the medical innovations in the last decade were from doctors or companies practicing in this country.  Lastly, the US has the highest survival rate for almost every illness including cancer and heart disease, to name a few.  So, I would strongly argue against Senator Sanders, and Dr. Richter's assertions that our healthcare system is broken. I would, however, agree that we could improve our healthcare delivery and insurance coverage, but this is not to "overhaul" the current system, but to improve those aspects that are not working.

Now, I am here tonight as a parent, healthcare provider, and family member of people who have battled cancer.

As a parent, I am extremely concerned about the debt that we are passing on to our children.  I want my two children to live a free life, where they make their own decisions about healthcare and where the government is not involved in every aspect of their lives.  I want them to work hard and reap the benefits of their own labor, and not have their efforts be diluted by "spreading their wealth".  I want them to keep most of their pay checks, and lastly, I would like them to live wherever they want, and not feel that they have to move out of Vermont because they can't afford to live here.  Currently, many people are leaving this state because of the high cost of living and high taxes.  A single payer healthcare system, would necessarily raise our current tax rate, which is already too high.  This current high tax rate drives out businesses and people from our state!

As a Pediatric Occupational Therapist, I am concerned about the welfare of our most vulnerable citizens, Children with Special Healthcare Needs.  Right now, I follow children who are covered by both Private Insurance and Medicaid.  Many here have demonized the Private Insurance Companies.  While they are far from perfect, and many do not cover pre-existing conditions, which is a problem,  many children on private insurance do get good coverage.  I can tell you that from my experience, the paper work for the private insurance companies is by far less time consuming that that required by Medicaid and Medicare. I am not advocating for an end to Medicaid or Medicare.  Indeed, I think there needs to be a mechanism for those with pre-existing conditions, severe disabilities,  or the extremely indigent.  However, it is a  fallacy that these two Government programs cover everything.  Medicaid is already rationing services.  Currently, Medicaid has a board that determines "medically necessary services" and often denies therapy services that they deem do not fit this criteria.  Medicare has recently cut home health and hospice services.  So now, we want to extend these services beyond the number of people currently covered?  Another problem is that there is not a mechanism to reduce medical costs.  How come there is no plan to enact TORT Reform?  Defensive medicine is a major driver of healthcare costs.  I can answer that question, it is called "special interests..ie trial attorneys"

As a family member to cancer victims, my family carries the BRCA2 gene.  This gene confers a higher propensity to breast cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, and colon cancer.  I have witnessed many of my family members go through treatments for these cancers, some of whom have had insurance coverage, and some of whom have not.  However, there has been no difference in the quality of their care they received, nor their outcomes.  For those without coverage, they have been able to work out reduced charges, special payment plans, etc.  Many hospitals and doctors have beneficent attitudes and I can say that none of my family members has gone bankrupt.  What I can tell you Ladies and gentlemen, is that one of my sisters was diagnosed with an invasive form of breast cancer after a routine self-exam and mammogram.  She was able to receive a mammogram and needle core biopsy within a week of finding a lump in her breast.  Over the course of a year, she had bilateral mastectomies, radiation, chemotherapy, and an Oopherectomy (removal of her ovaries).  If my sister had lived in Canada or the UK, she would have had to wait an average of 3 months or more for a mammogram, and that is even before being diagnosed!  With the type of cancer that she had, if she had lived in the UK or Canada, she would have died waiting for treatment.  Today, I can happily report that my sister is four years cancer free.  I am happy to have my sister with me.  Ladies and Gentleman, single payer health care or Government controlled healthcare leads to delayed services.  Delayed services don't just lead to rationed services...delayed services, in many instances also lead to death!

Lastly, my suggestion for healthcare reform is to remove restrictions for insurance companies to compete over state lines.  I can agree with many here tonight that insurance should be removed from employers' responsibility.  My work does not pay for my car insurance and home insurance. Instead, allow me to purchase my own insurance. Competition leads to reduced premiums.  Because insurance is actually actuarial services, we should be able to choose our coverage based on our own risks.  I am 48 years old, I do not have the risk of pregnancy.  I can also tell you that I have no plans for a sex change operation.  Why should the cost of my premiums reflects these services?  I also believe that people should have the same tax benefits as companies,  to purchase healthcare, and I am a strong supporter for health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts. People not able to afford coverage, could be given a progressive tax credit. These initiatives put me in control of my own health care and not the Government!

Thank you for considering my testimony.

Patricia Crocker is the Director of the Green Mountain Patriots http://www.greenmountainpatriots.org