
Americans are sick of the way our nation's health care system treats them. In survey after survey and across all social media platforms, they are speaking out, sometimes in rage and sometimes in despair, against a system they view as putting profits ahead
of people. They are confused by the complexity behind care delivery and distrust those delivering it. They know intuitively that the human connection necessary for compassionate, quality care is too often diminished in favor of productivity, efficiency,
and the bottom line.
Sr. Haddad
Those of us who are responsible for shaping and leading the development of health care policy can no longer ignore this reality. And we can no longer point a finger at other sectors of the industry and cast blame for the problems that have arisen after
decades of policy decisions driven by special interests instead of the common good. It is our responsibility to come up with solutions to create a system that values the human dignity of each person and recognizes that the well-being of our neighbors
is deeply intertwined with our own health.
For those of us in Catholic health care, we must be disciples of change. We need to remember why our founders began this ministry of caring for people, particularly those who emigrated to this country and struggled with poverty and prejudice. Our founders
understood that the very core of our mission is "to see Christian love as the animating principle of health care; to see healing and compassion as a continuation of Christ's mission," as so aptly stated in the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.
Today Catholic health care is America's largest nonprofit provider of health care, caring for one in seven patients in the nation. Many Catholic health systems are multi-billion-dollar businesses that employ tens of thousands of people and care for millions
each year. We are blessed with the resources to offer our patients the most advanced care available and provide it with compassion and reverence for everyone we encounter.
To live up to our mission and our vision to "empower bold change to elevate human flourishing," we must recognize our critical role in bringing healing and hope to those we are called to serve. As a representative of Catholic health care, I recognize
that our healing ministry cannot do this work alone. But we can be a leading voice that advocates for change.
It is time to grapple with the critical questions on issues that have been holding us back. For example, is prioritizing inpatient care hindering health systems' ability to invest more in programs and services that can better address community health,
chronic disease management, and preventive services? What reasonable new regulations are needed to curb profit-driven decisions by commercial insurance companies that delay and deny coverage to patients? Are intellectual property protections for pharmaceutical
companies that are intended to encourage innovation instead stifling competition and driving up drug prices? How do we help government leaders truly understand the benefits to society and the economy when everyone has access to affordable coverage
and care? How do we help employers recognize the increased cost of doing business when their employees miss work due to illnesses? These and other fundamental questions need to be part of a broader debate on how we reimagine a health care system that
works for everyone, not just those who stand to profit.
As CHA and our members look to influence health care policy in the months ahead, we must be grounded in and impelled by the core principles of our Vision for U.S. Health Care:
- Human dignity
- Common good
- Concern for the poor and vulnerable
- Stewardship
- Justice
- Pluralism
Using these principles as the foundation for our advocacy priorities with the new Trump administration and Congress, we will work tirelessly in calling for legislation and policies that ensure a strong safety net and protect Medicaid; provide access,
coverage and affordability for everyone; strengthen primary care, aging and chronic care services; improve the health of communities; seek to eliminate health disparities; and protect the sanctity of all life, from conception to natural death.
As we work to find solutions to fix our nation's broken health care system, we recognize there will be varying perspectives as well as many disagreements on policy solutions. We know that because the status quo appeals to some, there will be perceived
winners and losers to any changes in the structure of how care is delivered. But rather than see health care policy as a zero-sum game, what if all leaders of goodwill who are committed to truly reimagining a system focus their collective talents
and resources on creating one that is not only efficient and innovative, but also compassionate and equitable?
In short, it is time to recreate our system of care in the same animating spirit of our founders; one that emulates Christ's love.