Ten Things About Health Care Reform Obama and McCain Can Agree To
In the heat of a Presidential Campaign, especially one of this historical importance, it is not surprising that political commentators focus on the differences between the candidates' views. But when it comes to health care reform, especially now that the economy will make it harder for the victor to fix the financial part of the problem, it might make sense to consider what Democratic candidate Barack Obama and Republican candidate John McCain can agree to.
At a recent Washington, D.C. program, Peter Leibold, Executive Vice President/CEO of the American Health Lawyers Association, identified 10 areas of agreement among the candidates when seeking solutions to the problems of cost control and increased quality:
1. Governmentally supported pooling mechanisms for catastrophic illness
2. Payment mechanisms that encourage quality of care
3. Support for information technology use by health care providers
4. Promoting coordinated care and disease management
5. Increased funding for research and public health
6. Provider cost transparency
7. Promoting healthy lifestyles
8. Allowing re-importation of drugs and quicker release of generics
9. Portable health insurance
10. Greater attention to treatment of cancer and autism
Putting aside philosophical differences between the Presidential candidates and their respective parties, the forgoing list is not a bad place to begin any debate on comprehensive reform. No matter who wins the November 4 election, the country is desparately seeking solutions to a health care stalemate that has been with us for decades. The new Administration and the next Congress can begin this discussion around the "common ground" and work out from there. It won't be easy, but as any skilled negotiator knows, it's always best to begin with anything the parties can readily agree to.
Given the divisive atmosphere in DC, it's refreshing to hear you look for common ground. Most of us live in the common ground area and seldom encounter the hot button, fringe issues that seem drive politics. Good job.