ABC News has just written an interesting piece about the sort of medical care Congressmen, Senators and senior government officials receive. It shouldn't surprise anyone that they get really good care. They can walk in without an appointment and be seen immediately. Their doctors, unlike ours, have plenty of time to spend with them, explain things and ponder their cases. To add insult to injury, our politicians pay about $503 per YEAR to insure themselves and their families. If you and I purchased the same level of care we could expect to pay upwards of $3,000 per month. For just the insurance, not for the visits.
Services offered by the Office of the Attending Physician include physicals and routine examinations, on-site X-rays and lab work, physical therapy and referrals to medical specialists from military hospitals and private medical practices. According to congressional budget records, the office is staffed by at least four Navy doctors as well as at least a dozen medical and X-ray technicians, nurses and a pharmacist.
Sources said when specialists are needed, they are brought to the Capitol, often at no charge to members of Congress.
"If you had, for example, prostate cancer, you would go to one of the centers of excellence for the country, which would be Johns Hopkins. If you had coronary artery disease, we would engage specialists at the Cleveland Clinic. You would go to the best care in the country. And, for the most part, nobody asked what your insurance was," Balbona said.
In addition to Balbona, several former staff members and private physicians who have consulted at the OAP as recently as last year agreed to talk to ABC News on background. They described a culture centered on meeting the needs and whims of members of Congress, with almost no concern for cost.
It is no surprise, then, that so many of these politicians are totally confused about what all the fuss is about when they go home to their town meetings and everybody is upset. What's all the fuss about? America has the best medical care in the world? Wrong! Our politicians have the best medical care in the world. We, the citizens, have health care ranked about 37th, just above third world status.
I am constantly wondering how long all this ridiculous bickering in Washington would continue if, tonight at midnight, all the politicians were directed to their local Blue Cross doctor or Free Clinic. I would guess we would have a decent equitable and affordable universal health care in about two weeks.
But, that would be dreaming, wouldn't it. So, the nightmare continues for over 50 Million fellow citizens. Will the madness never end?
Read ABC's entire article here
