Bad Ideas are Hard to Kill

This cartoon ran recently in a Maryland newspaper called the Montgomery County Gazette. We are not alone in this fight against those who would like to privatize wonderful single payer EMS systems. The following is an excerpt from an editorial written by Marcine Goodloe, president of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association, and Executive Director Eric Bernard.

In spite of repeated claims that there is no evidence ambulance fees would discourage some from calling for help when needed, the volunteers showed what occurred in Fairfax County, Va., often used as an example by fee supporters. Fairfax County imposed its fee in 2005. EMS call volume dropped from 2004 to 2005 (when adjusted for population growth) and has remained below 2004 levels to date).

The volunteers have given first-hand accounts where rescuers, from fire chiefs to EMTs, witnessed cases where fees played a role in people refusing ambulance service. In fact, at many public hearings and citizen forums the county heard first-hand accounts where ambulance fees caused people not to call and to drive themselves to the hospital in emergencies. What analyses have been done to show that ambulance fees don't deter at least some calls to 911? The county executive has the obligation to prove with facts, not assumptions, that people won't hesitate to call.

There are many reasons why billing is a bad idea, but I'd have to put this one at the top of the list;

* It's likely to kill somebody!

Other reasons,

* The volunteers don't like it - some will quit which,

A.) increases the budget and therefore the taxes

B.) undermines the spirit of volunteerism which is crucial for the well being of the community

C.) makes volunteer recruitment very difficult

* Increases the overall cost to society of the service by envolving for profit corporations

* Moves us in a direction opposite from a single payer health care system which a majority of us support

* The whole country is debating how our health care system will be changed - bad time to change ours - wait

The desire to go to billing is driven by unenlightened narrow self-interest. Opposition to billing is not holistic altruism, it is simply an enlightened, objective view of self-interest. Instead of the short term, capitalistic, free market monetary reward offered by billing, we should consider the well being of society as a whole.