Senator Clinton Asks Americans for Input on Improving Healthcare

Are you as frustrated with the health care system in the United States as I am? Would you like a chance to speak out?

Here's a first for you. Senator Hillary Clinton has posted a question to Yahoo! Answers: "Based on your own family's experience, what do you think we should do to improve health care in America?"

Now, would I pass up a chance to answer that question? No way! Here's my response:

1. Put an end to insurance companies interfering in health care decisions and choices. It should be up to my doctor and me what tests are ordered and what medications are prescribed. I shouldn't have to have x-rays first when my doctor needs to see MRI films. When my doctor and I decide which medication is appropriate, I shouldn't have to spend six months trying two other (useless) medications before I can get the medication we knew I needed in the first place.
   
   
2. Set up criteria that doctors must meet before declaring themselves to be specialists in a particular field. I'm a professional patient advocate, and I see far too many patients go to so-called specialists only to find that the patient and their GP know more than the "specialist." This causes patients to be ill longer and costs them excessive time and money. It also increases the cost of insurance coverage as patients waste insurance as well as personal funds seeing doctors who can't help them.
   
   
3. Reign in the DEA and their overzealous monitoring of legitimate doctors prescribing controlled substances. Many patients who are legitimately in pain can no longer get the medications they desperately need because doctors fear prosecution and, yes, persecution.
   
   
4. Assemble a task force to address these issues. Include "average" patients as well as patient advocates. While legislators and other government officials may try, they really don't experience what the average patient does.
   
   
5. Increase research funding to the NIH. Base it on the actual needs of the population, not which celebrity is aligned with a particular disease.

It's your turn! Go to Yahoo! Answers and answer Senator Clinton's question here. If you're not already a Yahoo! member, it's easy and free to register.

We at MyMigraineConnection are not endorsing Senator Clinton or any candidate. This is purely an advocacy issue. Remember--if we're not part of the solution, we're part of the problem. Please take this opportunity to speak to a vitally important issue.