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Gingrich in state, talks health care
(Daily Oklahoman, The (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Apr. 10--Health care is a moral issue, and confronting health care problems that face the nation will require sweeping change, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Wednesday.
Moreover, providing effective, moral health care is a money-saver, said Gingrich, the keynote speaker at the Health Care Summit at the Cox Convention Center. The State Chamber and Integris Health sponsored the event.
"In the case of health, you have to start out with the achievement of saving lives before you can talk about saving money," he said.
Needing 'cultural change'
Gingrich, who engineered the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994, described governmental failures, especially in health care. He largely outlined broad, scholarly themes rather than specific fixes, including more widespread use of electronic medical records, better transparency in medical quality and pricing, and the responsibility people must assume for their health.
"That inevitably means cultural change, especially for the poorest people," he said, urging the audience to consider trade-offs and the difficult choices that must be made to improve Oklahomans' health, such as requiring physical education in schools.
Taking care of people requires protection from diseases, early intervention, wellness promotion, management of disease and acute care, he said, citing the order they must take place.
Gingrich suggested those who forgo health insurance expecting society will bail them out should be forced to post a bond in case they become sick or are injured.
He said 100 percent insurance coverage is possible but likely will require tax credits and/or vouchers.
"Health is the most complicated thing humans do," he said.
People are 'inexpensive'
Paying someone Social Security into old age is far cheaper than paying for medical expenses for protracted illness.
If you can get people to take care of themselves and intervene early, "people are very inexpensive," he said.
Gingrich asked how FedEx and UPS can track tens of millions of packages worldwide every day but the Department of Homeland Security can't find a similar number of illegal immigrants.
He detailed similar failures in health care.
"This is madness," he said, claiming that bad culture and bad government go together.
He recalled a quote from Albert Einstein: "Doing more of what you are already doing and expecting a different result is a sign of insanity."
He said health care is the same: People can see "stupid" things but don't have the gumption to push for "real change."
To see more of The Oklahoman, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newsok.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Oklahoman
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