Letter: A plea to Congress regarding health care

A replaced health care bill is on hold. Congressional leaders, use this time wisely. Quit placing blame for its failure. Quit reciting horror stories and get to the source of the problems. Give us a well researched review.

The problems started when the courts ruled that all states don't have to participate. There are at least 15 states that didn't opt into the ACA and refuse to draw down the federal Medicaid match. The ACA never had a chance to be a national plan.

Members of Congress, here's what we want to know: What is the usage of the ACA in each state in terms of conditions covered, number of people who have submitted claims and the status of cost increases? Has your state opted into the ACA and drawn down the Medicaid match? Use this time for satisfaction surveys, but probe to be sure the responders know where their insurance is coming from. Bring together hospital and doctors' office staff who handle the claims and learn what their experiences have been, compared to pre-ACA. Does the responsibility for the high costs lie with the insurance companies, the pharmaceutical companies, within the institutional health systems, with government restrictions? What has been the impact of anti-participation? Challenge the health insurance companies, the health care institutions and the pharmaceutical companies to bring you solutions.

We hear we should be running our country like a business. Most businesses I know would never launch a new initiative the way this bill was rolled out.

Kay E. Graber

Mount Vernon