Celebrating the One-Year Anniversary of Health Care Reform

Celebrating the One-Year Anniversary of Health Care Reform
By Deborah Swerdlow

We’ve all heard of Maimonides the Jewish scholar, but what about Maimonides the urban planner?
According to Mishneh Torah, Maimonides’ code of Jewish law, “No disciple of the wise may live in a city that is unprovided with the following ten officials and institutions,” which include a bathroom (No. 4), a synagogue (No. 6), and a court with the authority to punish criminals (No. 10). The most important official, according to Maimonides? A physician (Mishneh Torah, Sefer Mada, Hilchot De’ot, 4:23).
Maimonides argues convincingly that providing health care is a community’s most important function. In fact, the second requirement on Maimonides’ list is another health professional: a surgeon, likely a bloodletter. Moreover, the preceding line in Mishneh Torah reads, “Any place that does not have a doctor, whether one is healthy or sick, is not worthy of moving to for all the reasons set out in this chapter, for every person has responsibility for good health” (Mishneh Torah, Sefer Mada, Hilchot De’ot, 4:22).
Maimonides is far from the only Jewish scholar who has recognized the importance and value of accessible health care. We learn in Sanhedrin 37a, “One who saves one life, it is accounted as if a world is saved.” Such a pronouncement declares the entire health care profession to be one of the noblest in our society, given its ability to save multiple lives—indeed, multiple worlds, our tradition says.
The list of Jewish texts that speak to the value of health care goes on: For example, Leviticus 19:16 compels all of us, especially doctors and other health professionals, to act in order to fulfill the commandment that one “not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.” Our tradition also speaks to the importance of affordable health care: According to Shulkan Aruch, Yoreh Deah, “Doctors are required to reduce their fees for the poor. Where that is still not sufficient the community should subsidize the patient.”
This ancient wisdom is as true and relevant today as it was centuries ago. Recognizing Judaism’s repeated emphasis on health care, the Union for Reform Judaism has been an outspoken advocate for U.S. health care reform, which was finally achieved through the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. One year ago, on March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law this groundbreaking legislation, which when it is fully implemented in 2014, will extend health insurance to 32 million uninsured Americans and strengthen existing health coverage.
The Reform Movement is joining faith communities and other health reform advocates around the country to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the law and help educate Reform Jews and congregations about the way in which the law has improved our health care system. The RAC has prepared a web page of resources to help you understand the health reform law and plan programs in your congregation and greater community.
Despite the lengthy debate over health care reform, the fact remains that many Americans don’t know what the law includes and how it affects them now and in the future. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that 22 percent of Americans incorrectly believe the law has been repealed, 17 percent incorrectly believe none of the law’s provisions have been implemented yet, and 10 percent incorrectly believe that most or all of the law’s provisions have been implemented. (Visit the RAC’s resource page to learn which provisions have already started to benefit many Americans, including young adults, seniors and people with pre-existing conditions, and which provisions will go into effect in the next few years).
Although the health care reform law has NOT been repealed, it is still under attack. Some Members of Congress continue to push for an outright repeal of the law or other ways to undermine it, such as the so-called “de-funding” efforts that attempt to prohibit funds in the federal budget from going toward implementation of health reform. Meanwhile, federal courts are divided on whether the law is constitutional and challenges to the law are surely making their way to the Supreme Court. (Check Kaiser Health News’ scoreboard for updates on future court decisions).
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed last year is not perfect, but it is definitely a step in the right direction. It reflects the fundamental belief that every individual is created in the image of God, and that the body is worthy of respect and care – both preventive and emergency. Let’s take this one-year anniversary to learn about how far we’ve come and ask ourselves what still needs to happen to ensure what our tradition compels us to provide: inclusive, affordable, accessible, accountable health care.