Chris Madden

Texas can do better for uninsured

Imagine this: Your state has a health-care system that has the highest number of uninsured adults in the country, quality of care that falls far below what we know can be achieved and millions of adults suffering, and sometimes dying, from things that could have been prevented if they had timely access to health care. And then, amid all that, you get hit by a never-before seen strain of pandemic flu.

No imagination needed; this is actually happening right now in Texas. A recent report by The Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System ranked Texas an embarrassing 46th overall in health care out of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Even more disturbing, we were dead-last in health insurance for adults and children, with 30 percent of adults and 20 percent of children in Texas uninsured.

H1N1 has hit Texas especially hard. Although the pandemic hasn't been as devastating as initially feared, it has exposed major flaws in our marginal health care system like not having “medical homes” and electronic medical records that would allow us to quickly and easily coordinate vaccination efforts targeting those at risk.

Instead, to meet demand for care, some doctors have had to see patients in alternative sites, such as tents in parking lots and mobile units. The ultimate flaw is the uninsured who suffer the most during an epidemic like this because they don't have the ability, or resources, to see a doctor.

As a pediatrician and director of health in San Antonio, I watch these scenarios play out daily. I find it maddening because we know a high-performing health-care system would smooth the way for excellent care for everyone and protect us in times of crisis. Instead, we have a fractured, fragmented system that puts us all at risk.

While I believe there are many areas where Texas needs to improve, it all has to start with health insurance. Having 30 percent of adults without health insurance is a terrible stressor on our health-care system in the best of times, let alone in a crisis. To that end, Texans should support any health reform that will ensure that we all have affordable access to essential health care services. Without it, we'll always be behind, struggling under the weight of a population that is sicker than it needs to be.

Beyond health insurance, we should look to strengthen our primary-care system, increase the use of electronic medical records, improve quality and reduce health care disparities.

Texas has a long, proud history; we can and must do better than when it comes to health care. Let's not ignore the warnings given by the research and by the real-life experience of H1N1. Let's stand up and take action to ensure that we have a strong health care system that works for each of us every day.

About the Author

Quoting & Saving just got easier...EasyToInsureME Health Insurance Quotes... Quote all carriers in seconds

Blue Cross Blue Shield Texas
Texas Health Insurance

The Soul of a House By Madden, Chris $44.92 Author: Madden, Chris Subtitle: Decorating With Warmth, Style, and Comfort Publication Date: 2010/10/19 Number of Pages: 207 Binding Type: Hardcover Language: English Depth: 1.00 Width: 9.75 Height: 12.25

Jack Avarice Is the Courier By Madden, Chris $24.43 Author: Madden, Chris Subtitle: Kill the Messenger Publication Date: 2012/02/28 Binding Type: Paperback Language: English Depth: 0.50 Width: 6.75 Height: 10.50

A Funny Year in the Garden by Madden, Chris [Paperback] $25.62 Chris Maddens collection of cartoons about gardening and gardeners will raise a smile for anyone who has even the slightest interest in the patch of land outside their home. Concentrating on the people in the garden as much as the activities that are performed there, there are cartoons here for everyone who has a garden or an interest in gardening (and whether theyre interested in cultivating the garden or simply sitting in it). The characters introduced in the cartoons range from the obsessive gardener for whom a single leaf out of place is a cause for concern, through the person whod rather dig the garden than decorate the kitchen (this is the authors position), to the person whose idea of gardening is lying on a lounger with a good book (perhaps this one). Author: Madden, Chris Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 116 Publication Date: 2006/10/01 Language: English Dimensions: 9.25 x 7.50 x 0.24 inches

Chris $10 Chris

A Funny Year in the Garden: Gardening Cartoons by Chris Madden $16.53 No Synopsis Available

Madden $24.95 No person in the sports world is as popular 80-year-olds as well as 8-year-olds. And in Madden , Bryan Burwell gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the 'Boom!' in our Sundays. From Al Davis and the Raiders to Canton, from the booth to the bus to Turduckens on Thanksgiving Day, this is the definitive Madden book, a wild collection of stories from Madden's 50 years in the NFL.

Listen Chris $10 Listen Chris - Chris Hale

John Madden Autographed Madden Cruiser 8x10 Photo $130.12 John Madden Autographed Madden Cruiser 8x10 Photo John Madden Autographed / Signed Madden Cruiser 8x10 Photo

EA Madden NFL 11 $49.99 EA Madden NFL 11

Madden NFL Football - 3DS $39.99 Madden NFL Football - 3DS

Madden NFL 12 PS3 $59.99 Madden NFL 12 PS3

Madden Men's Ideal Loafer $59.99 Madden Men's Ideal Loafer

Steve Madden Btaffee Tote $98 Steve Madden Btaffee Tote

Steve Madden Bhampton Tote $79.41 Steve Madden Bhampton Tote

Madden Men's Guest Slip-On $70 Madden Men's Guest Slip-On

Steve Madden Btaffey Tote $98 Steve Madden Btaffey Tote

Madden Men's Randal Slip-On $70 Madden Men's Randal Slip-On

Madden Men's Juicee Slip-On $70 Madden Men's Juicee Slip-On

Steve Madden Bisabel Tote $54 Steve Madden Bisabel Tote

Steve Madden Btaffy Tote $61.78 Steve Madden Btaffy Tote

Steve Madden Bsunset Clutch $55.1 Steve Madden Bsunset Clutch

Madden Men's Kong Slip-On $39.95 Madden Men's Kong Slip-On

Madden Men's Peril Slip-On $70 Madden Men's Peril Slip-On

Madden Men's Test Boot $60 Madden Men's Test Boot

X360 - Madden NFL 13 $114.34 X360 MADDEN NFL 13

Wii - Madden NFL 13 $94.65 WII MADDEN NFL 13

PS3 - Madden NFL 13 $114.34 PS3 MADDEN NFL 13

Chris Botti $94 Chris Botti

Chris Cagle $61 Chris Cagle

This entry was posted on Friday, June 4th, 2010 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.