Government’s role in health care

I wish to address several issues that were brought up by Dr. Velazquez in his recent editorial on health care reform (“The future of health care reform,” Dec. 27).

He, like many others, referred to “pre-existing conditions” as something that needs to be resolved. He also mentioned access to “affordable choices.” Both of these problems would disappear in a universal, single-payer system because everyone, regardless of health status, would be automatically covered, there would be no premiums or deductibles and very low, if any, co-pays. The end result would be a healthier population, and reduced health care expenditure. Any other solution would merely complicate the issue and lead to increased cost.

His other point involved medical research. Unless basic research is funded by the government, the only studies that will be done will be to create marketable products that can be sold for huge profits. With regard to cancer, what we need is more understanding of the physiology and how our immune system can be trained to combat it, not another drug that may or may not prolong suffering and delay death.

Daniel J. Schaffer, MD

Spokane