Peace in the Middle East once appeared impossible until a visionary emerged to redefine what was feasible, demonstrating that courageous leadership could create enduring change. Today, we appeal to that same bravery and insight to reshape America’s health care system. The persistent governmental controversies surrounding health care are not merely about medical issues; they stem from financial pressures. Rising costs, inflated premiums, and overburdened physicians have shifted the emphasis from patient care to profit. While advancements in care delivery have made health services more effective and efficient, the benefits of these improvements are infrequent, and independent doctors face precarious futures.

Doctors aren’t abandoning their practices due to a lack of patients—they’re beset by the financial strains imposed by cumbersome compliance and bureaucratic hurdles. Corporate interests now dictate acceptable treatments and their related costs, resembling a health care gerrymandering, where organizations consolidate power to restrict alternatives and stifle competition. This intricate system lacks clarity, and its inefficiency endangers sustainability.

The history of U.S. health policy reveals a trend where presidential actions have significantly shaped the industry. From the introduction of employer-based insurance during Truman’s administration to the regulations of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), these alterations have resulted in workers bearing up to 29% of their paychecks on infrequently utilized health plans. Despite dwindling physician salaries and reduced hospital admissions due to at-home recoveries, the actual cost of care has decreased, yet prices remain unchanged. In the absence of transparency, the true financial outlay is obscured, and economic recovery falters as job growth stagnates.

Hospitals, previously led by doctors and charitable organizations, are now overrun by legal, financial, and developmental interests influenced by federal funding opportunities to broaden their scope instead of enhancing patient care. A system reliant on bed metrics naturally attracts investors, particularly private equity firms focused on profits rather than patient outcomes, leading to inferior health results compared to similar nations.

If military command were replaced by technology executives and financiers, public trust in safety would decline—and a comparable situation is unfolding in health care as physician authority is eroded.

Health care is a fundamental service, not a privilege. The doctor-patient relationship remains central to patient care—a principle we can utilize to rebuild this system through clarity and resolve:
– **Financially empower patients:** Redirect tax revenue into Health Savings Accounts or offer vouchers, replacing Medicare Part B with “Medicare Savings Accounts,” allowing individuals to oversee their health expenses.
– **Institute clear pricing:** Enforce transparent pricing for medical services, ensuring providers receive direct payment. This will encourage market-driven price cuts and improve accountability.
– **Restore confidence in physicians:** Allow doctors to practice free from administrative constraints, providing compensation for services without needing performance-based incentives. Many already function with clear pricing.
– **Eliminate network restrictions:** Encourage free market options—no employer should dictate a person’s health care access.

Administrative complexity has overshadowed the health care sector, becoming a primary employer in most states. Wage growth remains stagnant despite the ACA due to consistent divestment of salary increases towards rising premiums. Releasing these resources enables families to better invest in nutrition, education, and savings. By financially empowering Americans, we facilitate investments in personal health similar to promoting equity through home ownership—contrasting the surging costs and declining service associated with premium payments.

Mr. President, demonstrate authentic leadership once again. Harness the boldness that fostered international peace to restore equilibrium within our national health framework. Reestablish the direct relationship between patients and their doctors, free from intermediary control.

With a commitment to leadership, we can fundamentally rebuild America’s health care system, ensuring a structure that genuinely supports from the ground up, enhancing health for all. We possess the capability to accomplish this, and through focused determination, we must.