Obama faces challenge with health care

As 2009 commences, President Barack Obama crosses the political threshold and comes face to face with the harsh realities of a quickly decaying America.

One of the first obstacles he must conquer is the all too familiar issue of health care, which affects Americans of all social standings and is quickly developing into a national crisis. In an attempt to navigate through the chaos of modern politics, local experts share their opinions and provide insight.

“No one has been able to establish why health care costs so much more in the U.S. for basically the same product,” said Dr. Matthew Brogdon, professor of political science.

In regard to health care, the modern political landscape of the United States is fractured by two opposing mindsets. On the conservative side lies a desire to protect competition among health care providers and allow private choice to the individual citizen. In contrast to the conservatives is a progressive movement, desiring health care reform that includes provisional health care to the public. President Obama himself rests at the more progressive side of the spectrum. Although this tension exists, all agree there is need for improvement.

“There’s almost no one in Congress that doesn’t want some form of health care reform,” Brogdon said. “The question lies in what form it will take.”

One of the preliminary efforts in which Obama’s staff is involved is to revitalize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). In most states, the program has been exclusive to families earning an income at or under 180 percent below the Federal Poverty Level; which translates into an income of approximately $30,000 to $40,000 a year per family. Under Obama’s alterations to the program, children in households of families with a cumulative income of under $65,000 would become eligible for free health care.

“Similar to public education, it is a valid social-insurance goal to ensure that children get health care, as they do an education,” said James W. Henderson, a Ben Williams professor in economics and academic director. “A 6-year-old can’t very well pay for his own health care.”

Also on the font line of Obama’s changes is the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), a program allowing workers to retain their employee health insurance benefits for up to 18 months. In the past, the program required the unemployed to pay the full premium themselves, but still offered them coverage. Under the new revision to the program, the government will pay up to two-thirds of the premium cost.

One of the more controversial discussions in the Obama staff is to extend wider coverage under Medicare. With anxiety around the issue already, college students are left weary of what the future may hold.

“The government might as well hand you a bill on the first day of work, with a letter from Uncle Sam, requiring that in addition to taxes, we’ll get you to take out a mortgage to cover unfunded liability for Medicare,” Henderson said.

President Obama is no stranger to the impending crisis and see’s the solution in modernizing the system.

“We’ll restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost,” said President Obama in his inaugural address.

A key administrative goal is to bring the health care system into the digital age.

“By streamlining information technology in the medical system, costs will be lowered because doctors can more efficiently diagnose patients,” Brogdon said.

Transferring existing medical records into a digital format, allows patients to receive health care more easily because doctors will be