In the most dramatic and hard-fought political battle of our time-after decades of failed attempts by both Democratic and Republican presidents-Democrats in 2010 finally succeeded in passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). With all of its length and complexity, it had three simple objectives: (1) provide quality health insurance for every citizen, (2) improve the quality of health care for every person, and (3) bring health care costs under control. Democrats demonstrated their commitment to making quality affordable health care available to every American through their years of thorough study and tough negotiations to get the ACA through Congress. They were driven by the humane desire to eliminate the old "pay or die" system in which Americans in ever increasing numbers were priced out of the market. At the same time, they shared a practical commitment to shaping a law that would keep money in the national treasury and in the threadbare pockets of the American people. Republicans constantly proclaim themselves as the "fiscally responsible" party trying to balance the national budget. They portray Democrats as the party of "tax and spend." The very different approaches of the two parties to a national health care system reveal that nothing could be further from the truth. Democrats approach this task with an eye to expanding coverage and improving the quality of care while lowering costs. Republicans-committed to unfettered profit-taking within the "free market" capitalist system-oppose virtually every cost-saving measure in the Affordable Care Act. Democrats' primary client is the American people. Republicans' primary client is the Medical-Industrial Complex. Their clear agenda is to get the best deal possible for providers of health care at the expense of the people. Very few of us are aware of the many ways the Affordable Act is designed to save money. The law is complex and is hard to explain in sound bites. The citizenry does not have enough accurate information to counter Republican scare tactics. Dr. McCan's series of books about the Affordable Care Act is designed to educate civic-minded citizens about the many facets of health care reform that are not widely understood by the public. This 2016 Election Edition focuses on cost containment and highlights the many fascinating cost saving aspects of the law that have received little or no press coverage. It also points to remaining obstacles to full effectiveness of the law and what well-informed, vigilant citizens can do to protect health care reform from co-option by special interests.
About the Author: Robert L McCan has devoted his life to social justice. His first career was as a Yale Divinity School-educated Southern Baptist minister, deeply rooted in the Christian tradition that recognizes the "social gospel" as coequal with the gospel of personal salvation. He earned his Ph.D. in Ethics and Church History at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. After being forced to resign by his Virginia congregation over his support for the Civil Rights movement, Dr. McCan left the pastoral ministry and became a Visiting Scholar with Faculty Status at Harvard University, where he prepared for creating an international college with faculty and students from all parts of the world, where participants learned to live together in a global community. Dr. McCan pioneered what later became the multi-cultural approach to education as the founder of Dag Hammarskjold College. During the remainder of his professional career, he alternated between government service and higher education. He held Executive Appointments in four federal agencies, all with public policy components: the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity, the U.S. Office of Education, the Agency for International Development and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where as Deputy to the Director he dealt daily with public policy at the highest level. After his years of government service, Dr. McCan became Associate Professor of Political Ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary, American University. There he directed the "Washington Semester for Seminarians" program, in which theology students studied and participated first-hand the political process from an ethical perspective. He was also employed by The Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy, a think-tank supported by Protestant denominations and Catholic Bishops to provide guidance for them on public policy issues. Finally, he was a long-time leader and served for four years as President of the United Nations Association for the National Capitol Area. Bob McCan lives with his wife Peggy in Falls Church Virginia. He is active in the Episcopal Church and in the political process. His recent books include Justice for Gays and Lesbians and the two editions of Citizen's Guide to Health Care Reform.