by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Before he began his remarks at Monday’s meeting of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville, Baptist Health President and CEO Hugh Greene explained, “I think this is the 42nd time I’ve been asked to speak at a meeting about the future of health care. It seems every time I do, something changes in health care that day.”
He was referring to the release of President Barack Obama’s latest proposal that was scheduled to be made available to the public Monday. Greene said he checked the Internet before he left his office for the meeting, but the document had not been posted on the White House Web site.
That being said, Greene also explained that it had been 18 months since he addressed his fellow club members on the issues surrounding the topic that combines the national well-being with the federal budget and the national debt.
“The last time I spoke to this club, I talked about the various positions and opinions about health care held by the candidates for President of the United States,” said Greene. “To say the least things have changed a lot since then.”
Some things on the other hand, have not changed, he added.
“The ever-increasing cost of health care is still an issue we’re dealing with. The total expense is up to 17.3 percent of the gross domestic product,” said Greene. “We’re also seeing a decline in the number of employers offering health insurance to their employees and there are 48 million people who have no health insurance. Clearly it’s an environment ripe for change.”
People living without health insurance fall into a variety of categories including those who are unable to qualify for government health care, people who can’t afford to purchase health insurance based on their family income, those with preexisting conditions who have been denied coverage and young people who refuse to buy health insurance.
Green said one proposal would make part of filing a federal income tax return providing proof of health insurance. If no proof is provided the taxpayer could be subject to an excise tax.
“In reality the only way to cover the rising cost of health care is to reduce benefits or find something else to tax,” said Greene.
He predicted that the plan put forth by the White House would be a “scaled down version” of the legislation already proposed. Greene said he believes health care reform will eventually be enacted in an incremental fashion to foster bipartisan support and that the first element to be addressed will be controlling the cost of delivering health care to all Americans.
“One thing is for sure, this is not going to be easy,” said Greene. “They couldn’t get it done with one political party controlling the White House and both houses of congress and if history is any measure, the President’s proposal won’t be totally embraced even by his own party.”
Another item on the club’s agenda Monday was welcoming its newest honorary member, Rear Adm. Tim Alexander, commanding officer of the Navy Region Southeast. He is a helicopter pilot, former squadron commander and former member of the Chief of Naval Operations’ staff.
Alexander, who has been assigned to duty stations all over the world during his career said, “On behalf of the military, particularly the U.S. Navy, thank you all for what you do for our personnel and their families. Jacksonville is the most Navy-friendly town I have ever served in.”
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