The "Kennedy Effect" on Healthcare Reform

As flags fly half-staff on Capitol Hill, the frenetic media coverage around the Lion of the Senate is focusing on his muliple crusades for better U.S. Health care. Despite your views, Ted Kennedy was a good for healthcare and politics which have morphed into one. When he took ill, several friends of mine in the Oncology field were contacted by his personal physician who served as command central, triaging the best options in our complicated system. Brain cancer found a formidable competitor in the Lion.

There is Kennedy irony in that he died of cancer. On December 23, 1971 (my birthday) a modified bill he sponsored providing over $1B dollars to the National Cancer Institute was enacted-- it was larger than what Nixon proposed. Also ironically during this period he turned downed Nixons offer for Universal Healthcare. And like today War consumed the political agenda which made getting healthcare done impossible.

In the end, the Senator got the best care and knew it. More importantly he wanted every American to receive the same treatment as an old famous U.S. senator could. On June 2009, Kennedy offered us his final work of health care art "The Affordable Health Choices Act" where despite alterations from both parties is expected so is a signed bill. Finally.

-Meg

For more on his timeline of achievements (and great healthcare history) visit: kaiserhealthnews.org. Also take the Kennedy Quiz on Healthcare below

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2009/August/27/3khnstory.aspx