 "Photo: Anthony Salinas / The Pan American")
A recent health problem led me into the embattled field of medical care and started me thinking. There’s a real and extensive problem with health care, and to fix it isn’t exactly a political tactic.
In the State of the Union address, President Barack Obama gave his agenda and we appear on the verge of major revamping that will lead to a better quality of life for all. This extraordinary moment cannot cease at the hands of political posturing and tactical bickering by a few self-centered U.S. Senators.
The eye-opening moment came when I sat in the doctor’s office and realized, because of signage on the walls, that health care is not available to all.
I must note that my journey actually began at UTPA’s Student Health Services. However, as the waiting room was filled with walk-in patients, I was not guaranteed I would even be seen. Essentially, I was rejected by my school because of an apparent lack of staff (one person on duty).
In my moment of need, Student Health Services was not there for me. In fact, there is a specific tuition fee paid every semester to fund services they provide. As is the case whenever a business breaks contract, I better get my damn money back.
The campus community should be grateful for the services provided, especially considering that the Valley is one of the least-insured places in the country. However, a shortage in staffing should be seen by administrators as a problem. Again, we pay for these essential services, but if services aren’t consistently provided, there is something amiss.
What about those who aren’t students? Or those without health insurance? I thank God I have good health insurance provided by my parents, because if not I’d be out of luck and good health. Those who do have good insurance (often the government-employee variety like mine) need to find it within themselves to have some concern for those who do not.
This heavily impoverished region has been pointed out many times, and even by the president himself, for its health care deficiencies. There are odd skews in the different pools of money spent on medical care in the Rio Grande Valley.
The legislation before Congress will reconstruct the industry in such a way that it becomes much more efficient and productive toward its intended purpose: providing medical care. Still, there are significant issues that lay deeply embedded in the bill. For instance, full federal coverage of Medicare in Nebraska? That is simply a ridiculous use of political incentive to swing a vote, and was tastefully done the old-fashioned Washington way: a $1 billion taxpayer-funded carrot.
Correct, the bill is not perfect. But, is any bill? It’s highly doubtful there will ever be one that is without flaw, and this bill will likely not come close. We still need it and its reforms desperately because America cannot wait. America will not get better simply off hope, but needs real cooperation from all parties to push a bill through Congress and onto the president’s desk.
The fundamental changes in the health bill will provide for reforms that lead to improved medical services here in the Valley. It will also allow for better health insurance coverage for our populous, which in turn will lead to quality of health for the community.
When those crazy ultra-conservatives blast out vile, inaccurate nonsense, fire right back and remind them of the lives that are saved through health-care insurance. This is not about some irrelevant and skewed political philosophy involving the constitution, it is about saving people’s lives, and nothing less.
Help save someone’s life and urge your representative to give a ‘yes’ vote.
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