This is a guest post by Dr. Joshua Freeman, a family physician, educator and author of the blog, Medicine and Social Justice. As we wait to see if the President’s health reform bill passes, it is a good time to review the actual core reasons why we need health reform. I believe that this will help ground us, and allow us to evaluate both whatever finally passes, and help us ignore the political posturing and maneuvering that distract us from them.

According to the Commonwealth Fund survey on Medicare, beneficiaries indicated they were overall more satisfied with their health coverage. They felt they had better access to care and fewer problems getting their bills paid. This was compared to findings from people in employer-sponsored plans.

People opposed to health care reform argue that government-run health care will include health care rationing. The truth is, we have care rationing going on right now, today. Health care companies, under pressure to please stockholders, must reduce the amount claims they approve. It's called a "medical loss ratio" and health care companies are pressured to lower this 'loss' quarter after quarter.