Health Care Reform a Step Forward?

Article Link: http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/viewpoints/article833538.ece

While this is an opinion piece from the Buffalo News, it does point out important aspects of the recent changes made to the United States health care system.  As we have discussed in class, there are many advantages and disadvantages to both profit-driven and universal health care. In addition, I was interested in learning more about what is currently going on regarding health care.

The article itself does point out various positive components to the so called "Obama-care" and health care reform legislation recently passed. These include the emergence of accountable care organizations, which are created to support the fundamental purpose of health care: to provide and sustain life-long and long-term care. Essentially, it would make a coalition of health care providers responsible for the overall health and care of a population, keeping economic incentives and the needs of patients in mind. This component of the reforms was most interesting to me, because it seems like a well-crafted plan to foster both profit-driven and universal health care ideas in mind. Other aspects of the reforms are explained in the article.

As we all know, health care reform is probably one of the most on-going and debatable subjects in the country right now. Do you feel that the new legislation is a change for the better? If not, what are your ideas for a better health care system?