But speaking as a patient advocate, that's no reason to oppose a public option. Everyone's going to have to suck it up and give something. Doctor reimbursement may have to drop, taxes may need to go up, and insurance companies may have to provide more for less. Patients will need to give as well.
Ultimately, for any reform to work, patients will have to change their behavior. Of course, everyone should continue to demand the best possible care. But we will have to accept that "best" doesn't always mean the newest drug or the latest treatment. The looming question is whether patients are ready to embrace the realities of reform.
The alternative is to not get health reform, and that's simply unacceptable.
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