The New England Journal Of Medicine has produced a fascinating
U.S. Health Care Reform Interactive Timeline. The timeline shows the major efforts made, key proposals offered, and failed attempts at legislation to address the need for universal health care over the past 100 years. Clicking on events in the timeline, will, occasionally take you to articles from the archives of
The New England Journal or Medicine. For example, if you go to 1915, you'll find the American Association for Labor Legislation proposes compulsory health insurance. By clicking on that topic, you'll find links to PDF versions of two articles entitled "Industrial Health Insurance" and "Tendencies in Health Insurance Legislation" from the 1916 edition of
The New England Journal of Medicine.
The "Tendencies in Health Insurance Legislation" compares health plans in Germany, Great Britain, Austria, Netherlands and Norway, with a bill proposed by the American Association for Labor Legislation. The "Industrial Health Insurance" article suggests two provisions included in the reform legislation currently being considered by Congress. They are, apparently, timeless. The first suggests, "To be effective, health insurance should be compulsory, on the basis of joint contributions of employer, employee and the state." The second suggests, "It is highly desirable that prevention be emphasized so that the introduction of a compulsory health and invalidity insurance system shall lead to a campaign of health conservation similar to the safety movement resulting from workmen's compensation." Ninety-five years later, that is still good advice.
Health care financing has had a tortured history in our country. After 100 years, we are almost there.
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