Retired Montana Physician Criticizes Sheehy’s Plan for Health Care Privatization
TL/DR –
The article is an opinion piece by a retired Montana physician, Dr. David Lehnherr, criticizing a plan for privatizing healthcare proposed by Tim Sheehy, who is campaigning for U.S. senator. Lehnherr asserts that Sheehy’s proposal would negatively impact Montanans, potentially leading to the closure of rural hospitals, ending Medicare, removing price caps on prescription drugs and overturning the Affordable Care Act. The author particularly emphasizes the financial burden it would place on low-income, senior patients and families who rely on Medicare and Medicaid, and mentions the potential risks to access to health care in rural areas.
An Unsettling Prospect: Full Privatization of US Healthcare
In the current healthcare discourse, Tim Sheehy’s proposal for a purely privatized US healthcare system raises serious concerns. As a retired physician from Montana, this idea threatens the wellbeing of numerous patients.
Sheehy, aspiring to be a U.S. senator, shocked many with his support for complete healthcare privatization. This dramatic shift could potentially have dire consequences for Montanans, including the closure of rural hospitals, the cessation of Medicare, the elimination of prescription drug price caps, and the removal of the Affordable Care Act’s protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
A move towards total privatization would see the end of Medicare and Medicaid, leaving patients with thousands of dollars in fees for essential services. These schemes are invaluable for ensuring affordable healthcare for low income and elderly patients.
It is disconcerting to think that Sheehy plans to strip Montanans of Medicare benefits they’ve contributed to their whole lives. This could force seniors to bear out-of-pocket costs for healthcare services that were previously covered, such as prescription costs that were capped at \$35.
Moreover, privatization would place the burden of healthcare costs squarely on those relying on Medicaid, including thousands of children. This could discourage Montana families from seeking preventative care for their children, thus compromising their health. Sheehy’s plan could also severely limit access to healthcare for families across Montana.
The implications for rural communities are especially grave. Privatization could lead to hospital closures, forcing rural residents to travel greater distances for medical care. Affordable and quality medical care should not be contingent upon residing in urban areas.
Sheehy’s plan, it appears, is informed by his multimillionaire perspective rather than the realities of healthcare costs for everyday Montanans. A system in which individuals must choose between life-saving surgery and crippling debt is not a viable solution. This is not the future we want for our citizens.
—
Read More Health & Wellness News ; US News