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The Health Security Act: A Case of Good News and Bad News

THERE MAYBE NO ISSUE TODAY that is more controversial than healthcare reform. Among the general public, policy makers, and healthcare professionals, the mere mention of that phrase is likely to elicit reactions that range from elation to anger, usually accompanied by a certain degree of confusion. Clearly, many Americans believe that our healthcare system is in desperate need of reform. Earlier questions regarding "if' changes are needed have been replaced by inquiries asking "when" and "how" reform will occur. As one observer has noted, "although congressmen in both parties agree that the country is in dire need of health-care reform, they are split as to how and how much."! No one knows what type of healthcare reform legislation Congress will eventually pass, but the obvious starting point for future debates is President Clinton's Health Security Act (HSA). This proposal seeks to make some fairly drastic changes in the hope of increasing access to, while at the same time decreasing the cost and improving the quality of, this nation's healthcare system. In so doing, it has the potential to profoundly influence the organization, delivery, and financing of healthcare services. As pharmacists, we wonder how such substantial reform will affect our professional futures. A question of particular interest to most pharmacists is, How will the President's proposal for healthcare reform impact pharmacy and pharmacy practice?