Today the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) endorsed Governor Rod Blagojevich’s All Kids proposal to provide healthcare for all children in the state. They join the Illinois Hospital Association (IHA) in endorsing the plan along with over 400 other groups according to the governor’s office (see this for a caveat).
ISMS (and its related organization ISMIE) and IHA are both very big GOP donors - which might put pressure on Republicans in the State Assembly to pass All Kids. I say “might” because neither medical group is traditionally known for support of universal healthcare. While some may guess this is payback for Democrats passing medical malpractice reform, my guess is it isn’t. First of all in politics memory tends to be short, especially if you’ve already gotten what you want. Secondly, I’m not sure that ISMS and IHA got what they wanted. Remember that we still haven’t heard from the courts on the constitutionality of the new law which, in a prior form, failed to pass constitutional muster (hat tip to Mark Goldsher for emphasizing this line of thought in a discussion months back). I suspect, and fear, political cover by the medical groups, who figure they can look good at little or no cost with their support now, and use the experience later to talk about the “failure” of all such reform.
It’s no news that Blagojevich is using All Kids as a popular vehicle to get elected - but that’s not the point if it works (at least to me and many others). You deliver healthcare for kids, take the credit. This applies to all parties and politicians - as long as the healthcare is comprehensive and affordable to all - you deserve the credit. That said, we’ve still got a problem. Things seem to be continually falling apart for the Blagojevich Administration with little end in sight. The calculation by ISMS and IHA could be that Blagojevich is a short-timer or, given the poor GOP field (and now this) that Blagojevich will win but won’t have the muscle or will to get a decent bill through the State House and Senate.
If you believe in healthcare for everyone in Illinois (not to mention the United States) none of the calculations above are comforting. And neither is the past healthcare experience with the Blagojevich Administration. This is one of those cases where I hope I’m wrong, because I fear I’m right. Of course, just because a group makes a calculation doesn’t mean they have it right. There have been miscalculations in the past, “bombshells” that exploded in unexpected ways, making way for real progress. We can only hope that if I’m right All Kids becomes a catalyst for healthcare coverage for all regardless of its supporters’ motives. Motives matter, but results matter more. Illinois residents are ready for comprehensive, affordable healthcare.
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