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• It has been more than three years since this conversation and the health care law was passed. In 2014 the ACA will advance to require insurance companies to cover everyone, even with pre-existing conditions. And to defray the cost of access to all, everyone will be required to have insurance, like what we have required for the auto industry.
• There are those that argue the ACA relies too much on regulation, rather than harnessing market forces; should give insurance companies more wiggle room to control costs; and needs to be more radical in cutting certain wasteful programs. I believe these criticisms are appropriate, the ACA has room for improvement, and it can be refined. But I'm afraid if we recklessly dump the ACA to more aggressively go after the cost issue, we will likely forget the access issue, and leave millions uninsured once again.
• We cannot forget the ethical importance to providing access and care for all.
• Dr. Rick Holm wrote this Prairie Doc Perspective for "On Call®," a weekly program where medical professionals discuss health concerns for the general public.  "On Call®" is produced by the Healing Words Foundation in association with the South Dakota State University Journalism Department. "On Call®" airs Thursdays on South Dakota Public Broadcasting-Television at 7 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Mountain. Visit us at OnCallTelevision.com.