The United States is the most developed nation in the world, yet we're one of a few top 50 countries where citizens face significant financial limitations in accessing quality care.
MARQUETTE, Mich – Dr. Bob Lorinser believes all people must have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. Dr. Bob will champion initiatives that provide United States citizens the full range of essential health services they deserve – from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, mental health, and palliative care.
Referencing the World Health Organization (WHO), Lorinser says the expansion of healthcare initiatives must include:
Accessibility to high-quality health services
Receiving necessary health services without suffering financial hardship
A robust and skilled healthcare workforce
Strong, people-centered primary healthcare
Care rooted in the local community, including rural accessibility
A focus not only on preventing and treating disease and illness but also on wellness and quality of life
Full-spectrum of essential, quality health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care across the life course.
Equal treatment for all health issues, including behavioral health issues (Substance use disorders, mental illness, etc.)
Protecting people from the financial consequences of paying out-of-pocket for health services reduces the risk of poverty due to unexpected illness. Often, hospitalization and essential life-saving medicine require citizens to use their life savings, sell assets, or borrow – destroying their futures and sometimes burdening their children with massive amounts of debt.
This needs to be addressed.
Is it socialized medicine?
No. Socialized medicine is often mentioned in conversations about universal coverage, but Dr. Bob says we must recognize the difference. In a socialized medicine system, the government pays for healthcare, operates hospitals, and employs medical staff.
Veterans Affairs (VA) is the closest we have in the US. The VA is unique.
"Do I think the government should direct all medical care? Absolutely not." – Dr. Bob Lorinser
Dr. Bob Lorinser supports
The VA
The expansion of Medicare and Medicaid
Privately operated employer directed medical care facilities like the Mayo Clinics or Cleveland Clinics
"The United States is the most developed nation in the world," said Dr. Bob. "Yet, we're one of the few top 50 countries where citizens face significant financial limitations in accessing quality care.."
Dr. Lorinser says unchecked, in the next 30 years healthcare may exceed 30% of the GDP. He believes the United States must do something to address medical costs and that healthcare and education should be two fundamental services affordable to all payers.
Why is Dr. Lorinser so passionate about healthcare?
It's how he's served his country for nearly 40 years. Dr. Lorinser has three advanced degrees in medicine, social work, and public health administration. He worked as a social worker in a VA hospital and a physician for the American Indian Health Service in the Navajo Nation. Dr. Lorinser then spent 30 years practicing and teaching family medicine in Marquette before the hospital's for-profit sale.
Dr. Lorinser has served low-income families, children in need of behavioral health services, and patients suffering from substance abuse, alcoholism, and addiction. Administratively, Dr. Bob also worked to help Upper Peninsula citizens access Medicaid and Medicare for essential care.
After three decades in family medicine and as a hospitalist, Dr. Bob served nearly 10 years in the United States State Department as a regional medical director. Stationed in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Korea, North Africa, and Iraq, Dr. Bob oversaw American service members' diplomatic and administrative medical needs across millions of square miles in dozens of countries.
Dr. Lorinser returned to Northern Michigan and continued his service as the medical director of the Marquette County Health Department to help citizens stay safe and healthy during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I am passionate about being a leader in Congress to make this happen," says Dr. Bob. "Nothing is free and there are multiple ways of achieving universal coverage, so we need to explore all avenues. I support many plans that will address this issue and move our country forward. No one should suffer because of their ability to pay for medical care."