Health care policy has a national credibility gap.
Nearly everyone can agree on the need to improve access and eliminate barriers. Yet, policymakers and interest groups have embraced the usual politics of secrecy and backroom deal-making. Health care reform should resolve to clear the smokescreen that habitually surrounds our political system. Lawmakers must take public input seriously and understand that patients are smart enough to understand reform ideas.
Now, there’s an online tool that’s making it easier for patients to share their input. The new website, OurCareBill.org, gives patients a non-partisan tool for drafting their own health reform law. After you craft your own healthcare legislation, patients can share it with Congress, tweet it to President Trump, and voice your perspective to the debate.
Founded by HealthMarkets, #OurCare allows everyone – patients, physicians, nurses, health insurance consumers and small business owners – to “Build Your Own Bill.” You determine what you want in healthcare reform legislation. A simple questionnaire presents the key healthcare topics. Users are provided with background information and links for further study. Patients can choose whether to keep key parts of the Affordable Care Act, select from certain proposed changes, or submit ther own ideas.
“We know there is room for improvement,” the organization states on its website. “We believe it is our job and our duty to give a voice to the #OurCare movement because we believe consumers and healthcare providers should take part in choosing what happens to healthcare in our country.”
It’s a clever way for patients to get involved in advocacy. Fitting, in the era of personalized medicine, innovative movements are embracing a personalized approach to the legislative process. Thousands have already created a bill, and #OurCare is combining their selections into what they call “America’s Bill.” It’s a real-time crowdsourced healthcare bill that shows what Americans want at any given moment. Thousands have already created a bill, and #OurCare is combining their selections into what they call “America’s Bill.” It’s a real-time crowdsourced healthcare bill that shows what Americans want at any given moment.
We believe it’s vital for the patient’s voice to be heard. This website is making it easier for patients to present their ideas to lawmakers. Check it out at OurCareBill.org.
