| President Obama's plan for reforming health care | | | | lives of other seniors, as a mathematical formula is an |
| contains some surprising provisions. One is QUALY, | | | | insult. This formula discounts the education, experience, |
| which stands for quality adjusted life years. The more I | | | | and wisdom of senior citizens. Seniors contribute to |
| hear about QUALY, the more I feel like a throw-away | | | | American society in countless ways. Many continue to |
| person. When you first hear the term, it sounds good, | | | | work long into their 70s. Others volunteer in their |
| and you think doctors are going to do all they can to | | | | communities. Thousands of senior citizens like me are |
| extend your life. | | | | raising their grandchildren. |
| That is not what the implementation of QUALY would | | | | The fact that congress would be exempt from |
| be. Yes, doctors would do all they can to extend your | | | | HR3200 and the QUALY provision is also an insult. If |
| life, but their actions would be limited by government | | | | this health care plan is so stellar, congress women and |
| regulations. What is QUALY? It's a mathematical | | | | men should be on it, too. While I can't speak for all |
| formula that determines whether senior citizens | | | | senior citizens, I can speak for myself, and need a |
| receive health care or not. The British health care | | | | health care bill that: |
| system has QUALY. "Bandolier," an independent British | | | | * assures my access to quality health care, |
| publication about evidence-based health care, takes | | | | * doesn't ration care, |
| exception to the formula idea. | | | | * lets me choose my doctor, |
| According to the newsletter, the idea of adjusting life | | | | * gives me insurance options, |
| years was created to "combine the quantity and | | | | * continues Medicare and Tri-care (military) coverage, |
| quality of life." While this sounds like a good idea, the | | | | * does not call for quality adjusted life years |
| Oxford scientists who write the newsletter -- Andrea | | | | * and provides fair reimbursement for value of service. |
| Moore, Sheena Derry, and Maura Moore -- say | | | | Mayo Clinic endorses these provisions. According to a |
| QUALY is a crude measurement with serious flaws. | | | | Rochester, Minnesota "Post-Bulletin" article, "Mayo |
| "QUALYs have been criticized because there is an | | | | Refocuses on Health Reform," Mayo does not support |
| implication that some patients will be refused or not | | | | the so-called public option for health insurance. "We do |
| offered treatment for the sake of other patients," they | | | | not support the creation of another government-run, |
| note. | | | | government price-controlled, Medicare-like insurance |
| A Health and Quality of Life Outcomes Website article, | | | | plan," states Mayo. |
| "Problems and Solutions in Calculating Quality-Adjusted | | | | However, Mayo Clinic is in favor of legislation that |
| Life Years," details complex, new formulas for | | | | requires Americans to buy health insurance, |
| determining QUALYs. According to the article, these | | | | sliding-scale subsidies for those in need, and defining a |
| formulas are based on utility and time, but "quality | | | | minimum health care benefit package. QUALY is not a |
| (utility) and quantity (time) of life are of essentially | | | | health care benefit, it is a health care penalty for senior |
| different data-types and cannot be combined by a | | | | citizens who worked hard and helped to make this |
| simple product of their numerical values." | | | | country great. We all get older, so say no QUALY |
| I'm a senior citizen and think portraying my life, and the | | | | today, for it could harm you tomorrow. |