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Senate Majority Leader Frist Champions Health Care Reforms Before the American College of Surgeons
CHICAGO—The malpractice insurance crisis is one of a number of shortcomings that threaten the sanctity of the future of the US health care delivery system, according to Senate Majority Leader William H. Frist, MD, FACS, (R-TN). In delivering his remarks as the keynote speaker before the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress on Monday morning, Sen. Frist noted that malpractice premiums have risen 20 percent or more for some surgeons and that some states are losing insurance carriers. "How long can this continue?" he asked.
The malpractice crisis poses real problems not only for surgeons and other physicians, but for their patients as well. "It diminishes the quality of care, as well as access to the quality care in this country," Senator Frist said.
On July 7, the Senate had the opportunity to pass a freestanding bill on tort reform, but the most powerful legislative body in the country refused to consider it. Nonetheless, Senator Frist remains steadfast in his commitment to passing this type of legislation. "I will not give up. You will see me come back to it again and again and again and again," he said.
The malpractice crisis is just one of many situations inhibiting the provision of quality care. A recent Census Bureau report shows that 43 million Americans are without health insurance, a 5 to 6 percent increase since the last time the agency released data on the number of uninsured individuals. "For the world's only superpower, that's simply not acceptable to me," Senator Frist said.
Senator Frist also cited access to health insurance as just one of the disparities present among today's American patients. Ethnic minority populations are more likely to fall victim to life-threatening illness, such as HIV and prostate cancer than are other members of society, Senator Frist said. "We must ensure that all people have opportunities to lead healthy lives," he added, noting that he has introduced legislation that would help to reduce health care disparities for underserved populations and intends to keep this legislation moving.
The threat of bioterrorism also needs to be addressed, Senator Frist said. After participating in hearings pertaining to terrorism, he said he is convinced that "we will see a biological attack in our country sometime in the near future," he said. Surgeons must assist their communities in terms of developing a response mechanism. "You have to ask yourself, 'is your community ready for that biological attack?'" he said.
But perhaps the most complex component of the health care delivery system is the Medicare program. Senator Frist said that in the coming weeks, Congress will debate "the most substantial changes in that program's history." Of course, these types of reforms will likely increase the cost of maintaining the Medicare program. Beneficiaries will need to shoulder some of the financial responsibility. The amount that beneficiaries will pay should be related to their income level using a formula commonly known as "means testing," Senator Frist said. "This is controversial, but I think it's very important," he added. However, without such change, there will be "no way to sustain Medicare for our children."
"I need your support," Senator Frist told the surgeons in attendance. He called on surgeons to help develop legislation that will assist in resolving the health care system's shortcomings, and encouraged them to play an active role through their professional societies and to serve as [health care reform] advocates by meeting with legislators and writing letters to their newspapers. "You are health care policy experts," he said, and the individuals who shape laws, regulations, and public opinion need to know surgeons' views.
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in American and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 65,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world.
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Online October 21, 2003