Comments on: Body Politics: A History of Health Care http://backstoryradio.org/2009/10/body-politics-a-history-of-health-care/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=body-politics-a-history-of-health-care VFH Radio at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:28:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Beau http://backstoryradio.org/2009/10/body-politics-a-history-of-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-6603 Beau Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:18:01 +0000 http://www.backstoryradio.org/?p=530#comment-6603 I thought of what may be an interesting historical analogy in the current health care debate - early fire departments. They were private institutions charged with the protection of the lives of the citizens who paid for their service. However, since these fire departments were private, for-profit institutions in competition with each other and not philanthropic organizations, it became quite apparent that they were not serving the public in a socially responsible manner. Fire insurance payments could almost be seen as ransom. By the end of the 19th Century, cities worked to establish government-run fire departments. Is there perhaps any parallel in the opinions of some that today's health insurance companies need to be government run? Please let me know what you think, and if my facts/interpretations are off. I thought of what may be an interesting historical analogy in the current health care debate – early fire departments. They were private institutions charged with the protection of the lives of the citizens who paid for their service. However, since these fire departments were private, for-profit institutions in competition with each other and not philanthropic organizations, it became quite apparent that they were not serving the public in a socially responsible manner. Fire insurance payments could almost be seen as ransom. By the end of the 19th Century, cities worked to establish government-run fire departments.

Is there perhaps any parallel in the opinions of some that today’s health insurance companies need to be government run? Please let me know what you think, and if my facts/interpretations are off.

]]> By: Anna Gardiner http://backstoryradio.org/2009/10/body-politics-a-history-of-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-387 Anna Gardiner Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:31:58 +0000 http://www.backstoryradio.org/?p=530#comment-387 The History of Healthcare brought to light the paradox between Americans' lust for individualism and Americans' need for collective social responsibility that seems to be a major stumbling block in passing healthcare reform legislation. This dichotomy seems to linger subclinically in each of us much like an undiagnosed slow growing mycobacterial infection -- one that politicians today are reluctant to address. This realization was particularly eye opening to me as someone dealing with the social repercussions of having become disabled unnecessarily because doctors' best efforts at diagnosis amounted to little more than referrals to other doctors and for more tests. Apparently under our present insurance-designed health care system, no one is responsible for diagnosis and treatment. This makes it easy for doctors to get paid while failing to address the health needs of chronically ill patients with systemic infections that fall within many specialties. To my astonishment, my exhaustive efforts to get public focus for this pitfall within our health care system has been met with an attitude of "that's something patients have to deal with on their own." This sentiment came from otherwise supportive friends, neighbors, my elected officials, their staff... Although President Obama mentioned on occasion patients being shuffled from doctor to doctor, I believe there was always an assumption that the patient eventually received a diagnosis and treatment. No one wants to investigate how pervasive the problem is and the likelihood such practices will become worse as our aging population becomes sicker with chronic and systemic diseases. The health care business model doesn't allow the time necessary to diagnose illnesses complicated by secondary conditions because the illness was never diagnosed initially. My experiences with doctors from 2003 through 2008 are chronicled in posts 1-20 on my blog http://doctorblue.wordpress.com. Now on SSDI and Medicare, I'm continuing my search for competent medical care and justice -- not just for me but for all of those in the same boat I encountered. People shouldn't be put out to pasture and given up on just because they no longer fit into another's profitable business model. This is something our current healthcare reform bill still doesn't address, and it is the reason that the proposed legislation won't reduce increasing health care costs. Vast sums of money have been spent on my so-called health care, and I have yet to receive a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. The History of Healthcare brought to light the paradox between Americans’ lust for individualism and Americans’ need for collective social responsibility that seems to be a major stumbling block in passing healthcare reform legislation. This dichotomy seems to linger subclinically in each of us much like an undiagnosed slow growing mycobacterial infection — one that politicians today are reluctant to address. This realization was particularly eye opening to me as someone dealing with the social repercussions of having become disabled unnecessarily because doctors’ best efforts at diagnosis amounted to little more than referrals to other doctors and for more tests. Apparently under our present insurance-designed health care system, no one is responsible for diagnosis and treatment. This makes it easy for doctors to get paid while failing to address the health needs of chronically ill patients with systemic infections that fall within many specialties. To my astonishment, my exhaustive efforts to get public focus for this pitfall within our health care system has been met with an attitude of “that’s something patients have to deal with on their own.” This sentiment came from otherwise supportive friends, neighbors, my elected officials, their staff… Although President Obama mentioned on occasion patients being shuffled from doctor to doctor, I believe there was always an assumption that the patient eventually received a diagnosis and treatment. No one wants to investigate how pervasive the problem is and the likelihood such practices will become worse as our aging population becomes sicker with chronic and systemic diseases. The health care business model doesn’t allow the time necessary to diagnose illnesses complicated by secondary conditions because the illness was never diagnosed initially. My experiences with doctors from 2003 through 2008 are chronicled in posts 1-20 on my blog http://doctorblue.wordpress.com. Now on SSDI and Medicare, I’m continuing my search for competent medical care and justice — not just for me but for all of those in the same boat I encountered. People shouldn’t be put out to pasture and given up on just because they no longer fit into another’s profitable business model. This is something our current healthcare reform bill still doesn’t address, and it is the reason that the proposed legislation won’t reduce increasing health care costs. Vast sums of money have been spent on my so-called health care, and I have yet to receive a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment.

]]> By: Historians Discuss the Development of the American Healthcare System « Andrew Smith’s Blog http://backstoryradio.org/2009/10/body-politics-a-history-of-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-386 Historians Discuss the Development of the American Healthcare System « Andrew Smith’s Blog Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:05:30 +0000 http://www.backstoryradio.org/?p=530#comment-386 [...] This podcast explores “the origins of the health care debate, and try to explain how we wound up with a system so different from the European model.” [...] [...] This podcast explores “the origins of the health care debate, and try to explain how we wound up with a system so different from the European model.” [...]

]]> By: Tackling Mount Malady | Encyclopedia Virginia: The Blog http://backstoryradio.org/2009/10/body-politics-a-history-of-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-385 Tackling Mount Malady | Encyclopedia Virginia: The Blog Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:06:24 +0000 http://www.backstoryradio.org/?p=530#comment-385 [...] show’s new episode on health care will air tonight: BackStory’s latest episode, “Body Politics: A History of Health Care,” will be airing this evening in Central Virginia. It’s a strong show, with obvious [...] [...] show’s new episode on health care will air tonight: BackStory’s latest episode, “Body Politics: A History of Health Care,” will be airing this evening in Central Virginia. It’s a strong show, with obvious [...]

]]> By: Lindsay Barker http://backstoryradio.org/2009/10/body-politics-a-history-of-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-384 Lindsay Barker Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:27:18 +0000 http://www.backstoryradio.org/?p=530#comment-384 I'd like to ask how mental health care fits in to this picture. We tend to think of ourselves as much more enlightened now when it comes to attitudes about psychological disorders and mental disabilities as compared to those folks of yesteryear, but are we really? We still expect people with conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder to take their medication (which often has very undesirable side-effects) and get over it. When we think of mental health care in the past, the image that comes to mind is of stark institutions where people were placed to be forgotten. We have ideas of horrible mistreatment of the patients in these places, including stories of rape and forced abortions. But would such treatment have existed outside of these institutional environments? How were people with psychological disorders cared for before the inception of institutions and drug therapies (they can't all have been locked up in Mr. Rochester's attic). I’d like to ask how mental health care fits in to this picture. We tend to think of ourselves as much more enlightened now when it comes to attitudes about psychological disorders and mental disabilities as compared to those folks of yesteryear, but are we really? We still expect people with conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder to take their medication (which often has very undesirable side-effects) and get over it.

When we think of mental health care in the past, the image that comes to mind is of stark institutions where people were placed to be forgotten. We have ideas of horrible mistreatment of the patients in these places, including stories of rape and forced abortions. But would such treatment have existed outside of these institutional environments? How were people with psychological disorders cared for before the inception of institutions and drug therapies (they can’t all have been locked up in Mr. Rochester’s attic).

]]> By: Brenda Trickler http://backstoryradio.org/2009/10/body-politics-a-history-of-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-383 Brenda Trickler Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:18:17 +0000 http://www.backstoryradio.org/?p=530#comment-383 Does the much-vaunted American individualism stand in the way of health care reform? Does the Calvinstic streak in American religions (particularly the Protestant ones) enter into it? How much "red scare" is still behind the current cries of "socialized medicine"? And what exactly is adequate health care, anyway? I'm uninsured and asthmatic. I don't have any health care, but you wouldn't know about my health issue to look at me (It's not as if I'm limping about on an unset broken leg.). I survive day to day, but many if not most people would say my situation shouldn't continue. Where do we as a society draw the line? I'm sure that Americans' expectations for health care have risen over time, but how far? Is health care a personal right or a personal responsibility? Does the much-vaunted American individualism stand in the way of health care reform? Does the Calvinstic streak in American religions (particularly the Protestant ones) enter into it? How much “red scare” is still behind the current cries of “socialized medicine”?

And what exactly is adequate health care, anyway? I’m uninsured and asthmatic. I don’t have any health care, but you wouldn’t know about my health issue to look at me (It’s not as if I’m limping about on an unset broken leg.). I survive day to day, but many if not most people would say my situation shouldn’t continue. Where do we as a society draw the line? I’m sure that Americans’ expectations for health care have risen over time, but how far? Is health care a personal right or a personal responsibility?

]]> By: Brenda Trickler http://backstoryradio.org/2009/10/body-politics-a-history-of-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-382 Brenda Trickler Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:44:37 +0000 http://www.backstoryradio.org/?p=530#comment-382 I'd like to see you address the profit motive in health care. Since the people who run for-profit publicly traded companies have a fiduciary duty to shareholders to make maximum profit and paying for health care is not directly profitable to them (hence the term, "medical losses"), aren't the current problems (of cost-shifting, medical bills forcing people in bankruptcy, rising numbers of uninsured, pre-existing conditions, etc.) unavoidable under such a model? Isn't a for-profit health insurance industry antithetical to quality health care for the entire citizenry? I’d like to see you address the profit motive in health care. Since the people who run for-profit publicly traded companies have a fiduciary duty to shareholders to make maximum profit and paying for health care is not directly profitable to them (hence the term, “medical losses”), aren’t the current problems (of cost-shifting, medical bills forcing people in bankruptcy, rising numbers of uninsured, pre-existing conditions, etc.) unavoidable under such a model? Isn’t a for-profit health insurance industry antithetical to quality health care for the entire citizenry?

]]> By: juepucta http://backstoryradio.org/2009/10/body-politics-a-history-of-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-381 juepucta Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:18:43 +0000 http://www.backstoryradio.org/?p=530#comment-381 Tommy Douglas form Canada warrants being mentioned. It also might help the ignorant masses to have the meaning of "socialism" be clarified (and separated from "social concern" - also explain "fascism"...). But yeah, the Canadian system would be a good eye opener - what made it happen and how things could be similar in the US. -G. Tommy Douglas form Canada warrants being mentioned.

It also might help the ignorant masses to have the meaning of “socialism” be clarified (and separated from “social concern” – also explain “fascism”…).

But yeah, the Canadian system would be a good eye opener – what made it happen and how things could be similar in the US.

-G.

]]> By: Harry M Marks http://backstoryradio.org/2009/10/body-politics-a-history-of-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-380 Harry M Marks Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:17:11 +0000 http://www.backstoryradio.org/?p=530#comment-380 I have two questions for the history guys: 1) Since the publication of Theda Skocpol's \Bringing the State Back In\ and her \Mothers and Soldiers,\ historians have been arguing that the story about the American state we all learned in public school--that it is traditionally minimalist and non-activist--is wrong. Given that every campaign for universal health insurance since WWI has been defeated, what kind of a story about the American state would you like to tell in place of the new orthodoxy? 2) Historians Colin Davis and Jennifer Klein have skillfully shown that since WWII, we have been locked into a system where most of us get our health insurance through our employers. That in turn has limited the role of the federal government to providing insurance only to those who don't get it through work. But the German insurance system, and to a lesser extent, the French, both work through the employment-union system. Yet their coverage is universal and gives a major role to the government. What does this do to the argument that employment-linked health insurance has been a major obstacle to health reform in the US over the last 60 years? I have two questions for the history guys:
1) Since the publication of Theda Skocpol’s \Bringing the State Back In\ and her \Mothers and Soldiers,\ historians have been arguing that the story about the American state we
all learned in public school–that it is traditionally minimalist and non-activist–is wrong.
Given that every campaign for universal health insurance since WWI has been defeated,
what kind of a story about the American state would you like to tell in place of the new
orthodoxy?
2) Historians Colin Davis and Jennifer Klein have skillfully shown that since WWII, we have been locked into a system where most of us get our health insurance through our employers. That in turn has limited the role of the federal government to providing insurance only to those who don’t get it through work. But the German insurance system, and to a lesser extent, the French, both work through the employment-union system. Yet
their coverage is universal and gives a major role to the government. What does this do to the argument that employment-linked health insurance has been a major obstacle to health reform in the US over the last 60 years?

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