In the Candidates’ Own Words: Health Care
February 14, 2008 – The following information includes direct statements made by the 2008 presidential candidates, as well as information provided on their campaign Web sites. This information is provided solely for the education of our members, and should in no way be interpreted as an endorsement of any candidate or position.
Barack Obama
Access to Health Care
"My plan will ensure that all Americans have health care coverage through their employers, private health plans, the federal government, or the states. My plan builds on and improves our current insurance system, which most Americans continue to rely upon, and creates a new public health plan for those currently without coverage. Under my plan, Americans will be able to choose to maintain their current coverage if they choose to. For those without health insurance I will establish a new public insurance program, and provide subsides to afford care for those who need them. My plan includes a mandate that all children have health-care coverage, and I will expand eligibility for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs to help ensure we cover all kids. My plan requires all employers to contribute towards health coverage for their employees or towards the cost of the public plan. Under my plan a typical family will save $2,500 each year. We will realize tremendous savings within the health-care system from improving efficiency and quality and reducing wasted expenditures system-wide. Specifically, these savings will result from investments in health information technology, improvements in prevention and management of chronic conditions, increased insurance industry competition and reduced industry overhead, the provision of federal reinsurance for catastrophic coverage, and reduced spending on uncompensated care."
Controlling Health Costs
"Catastrophic health expenditures account for a high percentage of medical expenses for private insurers.The Obama plan would reimburse employer health plans for a portion of the catastrophic costs they incur above a threshold if they guarantee such savings are used to reduce the cost of workers’ premiums."
"Obama will invest $10 billion a year over the next five years to move the U.S. health care system to broad adoption of standards-based electronic health information systems, including electronic health records, and will phase in requirements for full implementation of health IT. Obama will ensure that patients’ privacy is protected."
"Barack Obama will prevent companies from abusing their monopoly power through unjustified price increases. His plan will force insurers to pay out a reasonable share of their premiums for patient care instead of keeping exorbitant amounts for profits and administration. His new National Health Exchange will help increase competition by insurers."
"The second-fastest growing type of health expenses is prescription drugs. Pharmaceutical companies are selling the exact same drugs in Europe and Canada but charging Americans more than double the price. Obama will allow Americans to buy their medicines from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and prices are lower outside the U.S. Obama will also repeal the ban that prevents the government from negotiating with drug companies, which could result in savings as high as $30 billion. Finally, Obama will work to increase the use of generic drugs in Medicare, Medicaid, and FEHBP and prohibit big name drug companies from keeping generics out of markets."
Biomedical Research
"Barack Obama has consistently supported funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Obama strongly supports investments in biomedical research, as well as medical education and training in health-related fields, because it provides the foundation for new therapies and diagnostics. Obama has been a champion of research in cancer, mental health, health disparities, global health, women and children’s health, and veteran’s health. As president, Obama will strengthen funding for biomedical research, and better improve the efficiency of that research by improving coordination both within government and across government/private/non profit partnerships. An Obama administration will ensure that we translate scientific progress into improved approaches to disease prevention, early detection and therapy that is available for all Americans."
"Obama will establish an independent institute to guide reviews and research on comparative effectiveness, so that Americans and their doctors will have the accurate and objective information they need to make the best decisions for their health and well-being."
Stem Cell Research
"Each year, 100,000 Americans will develop Alzheimer's disease, with impaired memory, ability to understand, and judgment. Over 1 million adults will be diagnosed with diabetes this year, and risk complications that include blindness, damaged nerves and loss of kidney function. We all know or have met individuals with spinal cord injuries, including national celebrities, local war heroes, and loved ones from our own families and circles of friends, who are struggling to maintain mobility and independence. For most of our history, medicine has offered little hope of recovery to the 100 million individuals affected by these and other devastating illnesses and injuries. Until now. Recent developments in stem cell research may hold the key to improved treatments, if not cures, for those affected by Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, spinal cord injury, and countless other conditions. For this reason, I am a proud supporter of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. The president was wrong to veto it, and I will make sure that it is finally signed into law when I'm president."
Health Care Quality
"Obama will require providers to report preventable medical errors and support hospital and physician practice improvement to prevent future occurrences."
"Obama will tackle the root causes of health disparities by addressing differences in access to health coverage and promoting prevention and public health, both of which play a major role in addressing disparities. He will also challenge the medical system to eliminate inequalities in health care through quality measurement and reporting, implementation of effective interventions such as patient navigation programs, and diversification of the health workforce."
"Obama will invest $10 billion a year over the next five years to move the U.S. health-care system to broad adoption of standards-based electronic health information systems, including electronic health records, and will phase in requirements for full implementation of health IT. Obama will ensure that patients’ privacy is protected."
Resources
www.barackobama.com
Barack Obama’s Plan for a Healthy America
Barack Obama: Investing in Science Research
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John McCain
Access to Health Care
"The problems with our health-care system are not results of too little government intervention, but rather too much. Patients and doctors, rather than Big Government and Big Pharmaceutical, should be in charge of the American health-care system. We also need to rethink the whole system of HMOs and managed care, which has stripped doctors of the freedom to collectively negotiate with insurance companies to drive down the cost of medical care. Additionally, I would re-structure the tax code to allow individual Americans to deduct all medical expenses, as employers can. I would also eliminate federal regulations that discourage small businesses from providing coverage, and oppose further expansion of the FDA and other supranational regulating bodies that impose artificial barriers and costs in health care."
"The bottom line is simple: we need to lessen government involvement in the health-care industry and return control of health-care dollars and decisions to the individual."
Controlling Health Costs
"Foster the development of routes for safe, cheaper generic versions of drugs and biologic pharmaceuticals. Develop safety protocols that permit re-importation to keep competition vigorous…"
"Pass tort reform to eliminate frivolous lawsuits and excessive damage awards. Provide a safe harbor for doctors that follow clinical guidelines and adhere to patient safety protocols."
Biomedical Research
"Dedicate federal research on the basis of sound science resulting in greater focus on care and cure of chronic disease."
Stem Cell Research
"I oppose the intentional creation of human embryos for research purposes, and I support legislation that Congress has passed making it a federal crime for researchers to use cells or fetal tissue from an embryo created for research purposes. I also support banning attempts to use or obtain cells from a human fetus gestated in the uterus of a nonhuman animal. I strongly oppose human cloning."
"I support a public policy that balances the moral concerns of those opposed to federal funding of embryonic stem cell research with the sense of moral imperative of taxpayers who support such research. I support the increase of funding for promising research programs, including amniotic fluid and adult stem cell research and other types of scientific study that do not involve the use of human embryos. While I support expanded federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, I believe clear lines should be drawn that reflect a refusal to sacrifice moral values and ethical principles for the sake of scientific progress, and that any such research should be subject to strict federal guidelines."
"Stem cell research holds the potential to unlock cures that could defeat deadly diseases and relieve tremendous human suffering. At the same time, one type of stem cell research, involving embryonic stem cells, has also raised serious ethical and moral concerns, both inside and outside the medical community. The compassion and drive to relieve suffering and to cure deadly diseases cannot be permitted to erode crucial moral and ethical principles."
Health Care Quality
"Make public more information on treatment options and require transparency by providers regarding medical outcomes, quality of care, costs and prices. Facilitate the development of national standards for measuring and recording treatments and outcomes. Reform the payment systems in Medicare to compensate providers for diagnosis, prevention, and care coordination. Medicare should not pay for preventable medical errors or mismanagement."
Resources
www.johnmccain.com
On the Issues: Health Care
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