DAVE ROSS

There’s some ‘magical thinking’ behind GOP health-care plan

Jun 28, 2017, 5:57 AM | Updated: 8:42 am

health care...

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., right. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

A medical resident at Seattle Children’s says the Senate Republican’s prized health care bill will be detrimental to poor and working-class people, and the idea that it will provide more and cheaper choices is a dream.

“That is magical thinking,” Doctor Rachel Pearson, author of “No Apparent Distress: A Doctor’s Coming-of-Age on the Front Lines of American Medicine,” told Seattle’s Morning News.

She says that Obamacare may not be perfect, but the expansion of Medicaid has been one of the most successful health care moves in decades.

Pearson, who worked at a clinic in Texas, saw what can happen to a population living in a state without Medicaid expansion. The financial burden of health care has sent people into poverty and resulted in some dying of treatable diseases, she said.

On Tuesday, Senate Republican leaders delayed a vote on their health care bill until after the July 4 recess. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had hoped to push the measure through his chamber by this week’s end, before an Independence Day recess that party leaders fear will be used by foes of the legislation to tear away support.

Under the current bill, much of former President Barack Obama’s health care law would be rolled back.

Pearson, speaking for herself and not Seattle Children’s, says the bill would likely result in vulnerable populations being turned away from care.

“That’s the outcome we’re all hoping to prevent,” she said.

“It’s devastating,” she added. “As a doctor, you want to care for people. You go into it because you want to help people. It sounds cliche, but for most of us it’s true.”

She says the “shame” of not providing adequate or standard of care for people who can’t afford it is what ends up driving doctors away from practice.

Listen to the entire interview here.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

21 hours ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

21 days ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

22 days ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

29 days ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

1 month ago

social media...

Dave Ross

Ross: Is the Wild West of social media over after Senate hearing?

The original social media business model was genius -- get ordinary people to create content for free, sell ads and give the content creators a cut.

2 months ago

There’s some ‘magical thinking’ behind GOP health-care plan