June 04, 2010 02:20am EST 

As a top resource for relevant information about hospitals and doctors, we here at Hospital.com have not overlooked the issue of health care system reform.  There is no doubt that there is controversy surrounding the recent issue of health care reform among politicians, health care professionals and citizens.  Our stance on the issue mirrors that of the American Medical Association (AMA): Americans need improved access to affordable, quality care.  The new bill should focus on this point, as well as focus on reducing unnecessary costs in the current health care system, effectively allowing more resources to be used in new programs and initiatives that promote best practices and benefit the health of all Americans.
The health care system of today is broken.  Many Americans either lack health insurance or have inadequate coverage, limiting their choice of doctors and treatments.  These Americans are living their lives sicker and dying at a younger age.  Health care decisions should be made by you and the doctor of your own choosing.  Those who get sick or have pre-existing conditions should not be dropped or denied coverage.  All of these issues have been addressed in the new health care bill.  Health care reform also maintains and expands benefits for seniors, focuses on preventive care, and will not cut Medicare benefits.  Americans will have the option to keep the coverage that they already have or choose from quality affordable health care options.  Those who are claiming that the new system will be a “government takeover” should be conscious of the fact that the new legislation would retain the nation’s mostly private medical care system, avoid government interference in medicine, and cover only 12 million people through the public option.
The AMA has identified seven critical elements that are necessary to improve access to affordable, quality care and reduce unnecessary costs in the current system.  They are listed below:
·    Health insurance coverage for all Americans
·    Insurance market reforms that expand choice of affordable coverage and eliminate denials for pre-existing conditions
·    Assurance that health care decisions will remain in the hands of patients and their physicians, not insurance companies or government officials
·    Investments and incentives for quality improvement, prevention and wellness initiatives
·    Repeal of the Medicare physician payment formula that would trigger steep cuts and threaten seniors’ access to care
·    Implementation of medical liability reforms to reduce the cost of defensive medicine
·    Streamlining and standardizing of insurance claims processing requirements to eliminate unnecessary costs and administrative burdens
Hospital.com is committed to supporting health system reforms that will benefit the health of all Americans, as well as all American citizens’ prerogative to choose their physician and make their own medical decisions.  More information about health reform can be found on at the AMA’s website here, and at the Americans for Stable Quality Care website here.
Timothy Du
Hospital.com Writer