July 7, 2015

Bernie Sanders' quiet service to healthcare

First Look - Over the years, [Bernie] Sanders has tucked away funding for health centers in appropriation bills signed by George W. Bush, into Barack Obama’s stimulus program, and through the earmarking process. But his biggest achievement came in 2010 through the Affordable Care Act. In a series of high-stakes legislative maneuvers, Sanders struck a deal to include $11 billion for health clinics in the law.

The result has made an indelible mark on American health care, extending the number of people served by clinics from 18 million before the ACA to an expected 28 million next year.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

My experience of neighborhood clinics in the US is that only the less-able and less-caring practitioners work there. That was a surprise to me, since they are, or should be, the perfect venue for clinicians who are in it for the medicine rather than the money.

So I'd say there's less to Bernie's efforts than meets the eye.

Jim Klimaski said...

I hope you are not blaming Bernie for hiring these medical people? He did what he could to provide opportunity for medical care, it is up to the hiring committee to do its job, and maybe medical schools to instill professionalism and compassion in their graduates.