LMS President’s Message, November 2020: Fostering Open Dialogue and Meaningful, Respectful Conversations – Covid-19/Healthcare and the 2020 Presidential Election
By Mamata Majmundar, MD
We continue to see differing perspectives on the current response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Lexington Medical Society continues to support the messaging and efforts of the local and state health departments while recognizing the impacts on our lives and the community around us. The focus is continuing to decrease the spread of the virus while awaiting vaccine. Physicians can disagree on substantive issues while fostering open dialogue and meaningful respectful conversations. We can agree to disagree. Healthy discussion promotes better understanding of one another and can generate new ideas.
It is important to share your voice and speak up for what you believe in even if your view may be in the minority. What better way to do this than to vote. Election day might look different this year because of Covid-19 with opportunities to vote early or by absentee ballot. It is vital to take advantage of your right to vote to help decide the future direction of our country. The Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-partisan non-profit that focuses on national health issues, presents information on where the 2020 Presidential candidates stand on health care issues. Below shows at a glance, the record of President Donald Trump, and the health proposals of former Vice President Joe Biden. Both candidates support development of alternate payment models, prohibitions on surprise bills, proposals to lowering drug covers and cap out of pocket drug costs in Medicare Part D. The reference link goes into more details for each candidate with their response to Covid-19, the ACA marketplace, public option, Medicaid, Medicare, prescription drug prices, reproductive health, HIV policy, mental health and opioids, immigration and health coverage, long-term care, and lowering health care costs.[i]
As a good friend of mine said, “Stop the insanity and nonsense of saying that you don’t like either candidate. In life, you don’t always get what you want. VOTE, so you can help decide the future direction of this country.”
[i] Health Care and the 2020 Presidential Election. Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Published October 2020. Accessed on October 22, 2020. http://files.kff.org/attachment/Slideshow-Health-Care-and-the-2020-Presidential-Election.pdf
Stay safe and take care,
