WaPo and NYT articles on rush at free medical clinics in rural USA
Given below are contents of my Facebook post, https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/1942872162596018, dated July 23rd 2017, and some comments from it (slightly edited):
Thousands flock to free medical clinic, as Washington dithers on health care, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/thousands-flock-to-free-medical-clinic-as-washington-dithers-on-health-care/2017/07/21/07b7d1f2-6d80-11e7-96ab-5f38140b38cc_story.html, 21st July 2017
Ravi: I think this aspect of worldly reality is becoming more and more similar between wealthy USA and developing India. Many in rural communities in both countries are financially strapped and struggle to get good healthcare. Volunteer healthcare facilities become a great lifeline for them.
BTW I wonder whether Sai orgn. in the USA does such volunteer healthcare camps serving rural communities in the USA? --name-snipped-- - Do let me know if you have info. on this.
======================================
Ravi S. Iyer wrote:
--Name-snipped--. Sairam! Thanks for the quick and detailed response.
Happy to know that SSIO USA holds medical camps in different regions, and that you were on your way to one today! Noted the issue about medical practice USA laws making it little difficult to hold medical camps (as compared to India, say). I think it makes sense that SSIO USA follows all the norms and regulations of USA and concerned state of USA when it comes to having a medical camp.
Had a look at the other links you kindly provided. They are quite impressive.
My current interest is in USA mainly as I am also following the current healthcare law repeal and replace efforts made by USA Congress, and its anticipated impact (which seems to vary depending on whether the writer/speaker is Republican or Democrat) on millions of poor and low-income USA citizens. It is in that context that I was curious to know about details of SSIO USA medical camps in rural communities in USA (as it is rural USA where healthcare challenges for the poor seem to be high).
The financial aspect of USA healthcare is staggering in its size. If I recall correctly, I have heard USA senators describe it as a sixth of the USA economy size. That is HUUUUGE!!! The USA Congress efforts, the Congressional Budget Office documents on the proposals, the various articles in USA mainstream media that support or critique these proposals etc. provide a wealth of detail about the size as well as the complexity of USA healthcare field. The dream of people like Bernie Sanders to provide universal healthcare under a single payer system (funded with taxes on the wealthy I guess) does not seem to have many takers either on the Republican side or on the Democrat side! Its viability for a big and complex country (some say continent) like the USA may be something that needs to be proven to the doubters.
Meanwhile it is great to see some USA doctors and other healthcare professionals along with organizers and other non-healthcare support staff, step up to provide volunteer/free healthcare services to those in rural USA communities that do not have such healthcare (as they cannot afford the insurance or the doctor/hospital/dental clinic fees).
----
When Health Law Isn’t Enough, the Desperate Line Up at Tents, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/23/us/healthcare-uninsured-rural-poor-affordable-care-act-republicans.html, 23rd July 2017
Thousands flock to free medical clinic, as Washington dithers on health care, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/thousands-flock-to-free-medical-clinic-as-washington-dithers-on-health-care/2017/07/21/07b7d1f2-6d80-11e7-96ab-5f38140b38cc_story.html, 21st July 2017
Ravi: I think this aspect of worldly reality is becoming more and more similar between wealthy USA and developing India. Many in rural communities in both countries are financially strapped and struggle to get good healthcare. Volunteer healthcare facilities become a great lifeline for them.
BTW I wonder whether Sai orgn. in the USA does such volunteer healthcare camps serving rural communities in the USA? --name-snipped-- - Do let me know if you have info. on this.
======================================
Ravi S. Iyer wrote:
--Name-snipped--. Sairam! Thanks for the quick and detailed response.
Happy to know that SSIO USA holds medical camps in different regions, and that you were on your way to one today! Noted the issue about medical practice USA laws making it little difficult to hold medical camps (as compared to India, say). I think it makes sense that SSIO USA follows all the norms and regulations of USA and concerned state of USA when it comes to having a medical camp.
Had a look at the other links you kindly provided. They are quite impressive.
My current interest is in USA mainly as I am also following the current healthcare law repeal and replace efforts made by USA Congress, and its anticipated impact (which seems to vary depending on whether the writer/speaker is Republican or Democrat) on millions of poor and low-income USA citizens. It is in that context that I was curious to know about details of SSIO USA medical camps in rural communities in USA (as it is rural USA where healthcare challenges for the poor seem to be high).
The financial aspect of USA healthcare is staggering in its size. If I recall correctly, I have heard USA senators describe it as a sixth of the USA economy size. That is HUUUUGE!!! The USA Congress efforts, the Congressional Budget Office documents on the proposals, the various articles in USA mainstream media that support or critique these proposals etc. provide a wealth of detail about the size as well as the complexity of USA healthcare field. The dream of people like Bernie Sanders to provide universal healthcare under a single payer system (funded with taxes on the wealthy I guess) does not seem to have many takers either on the Republican side or on the Democrat side! Its viability for a big and complex country (some say continent) like the USA may be something that needs to be proven to the doubters.
Meanwhile it is great to see some USA doctors and other healthcare professionals along with organizers and other non-healthcare support staff, step up to provide volunteer/free healthcare services to those in rural USA communities that do not have such healthcare (as they cannot afford the insurance or the doctor/hospital/dental clinic fees).
----
When Health Law Isn’t Enough, the Desperate Line Up at Tents, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/23/us/healthcare-uninsured-rural-poor-affordable-care-act-republicans.html, 23rd July 2017
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