President Obama’s comments regarding health care reform at presser
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
From Tuesday's White House Press Conference President Obama Holds Press Conference:
(Prepared Remarks)
The last issue I'd like to address is health care. Right now, Congress is debating various health care reform proposals. This is obviously a complicated issue, but I am very optimistic about the progress that they're making.
Like energy, this is legislation that must and will be paid for. It will not add to our deficits over the next decade. We will find the money through savings and efficiencies within the health care system, some of which we've already announced.
We will also ensure that the reform we pass brings down the crushing cost of health care. We simply can't have a system where we throw good money after bad habits. We need to control the skyrocketing costs that are driving families, businesses and our government into greater and greater debt.
There's no doubt that we must preserve what's best about our health care system, and that means allowing Americans who like their doctor and their health care plans to keep them. But unless we fix what's broken in our current system, everyone's health care will be in jeopardy. Unless we act, premiums will climb higher, benefits will erode further, and the rolls of the uninsured will swell to include millions more Americans.
Unless we act, one out of every five dollars that we earn will be spent on health care within a decade, and the amount our government spends on Medicare and Medicaid will eventually grow larger than what our government spends on everything else today.
When it comes to health care, the status quo is unsustainable and unacceptable. So reform is not a luxury. It's a necessity, and I hope the Congress will continue to make significant progress on this issue in the weeks ahead.
* * *
(Press Questions)
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President.
Two of the key players in the insurance industry, America's Health Insurance Plans and Blue Cross/Blue Shield, sent a letter to the Senate this morning saying that a government health insurance plan would, quote, "dismantle," end quote, private insurers.
QUESTION: Why are they wrong?
And, secondly, this public plan, is this non-negotiable? Would you sign a health care bill without it?
OBAMA: Well, let's — let's talk first of all about health care reform more broadly. I think in this debate there's been some notion that if we just stand pat, we're OK. And that's just not true.
You know, there are polls out that show that 70 percent or 80 percent of Americans are satisfied with the health insurance that they currently have.
The only problem is that premiums have been doubling every nine years, going up three times faster than wages.
The U.S. government is not going to be able to afford Medicare and Medicaid on its current trajectory. Businesses are having to make very tough decisions about whether we drop coverage or we further restrict coverage.
So the notion that somehow we can just keep on doing what we're doing, and that's OK, that's just not true. We have a long-standing critical problem in our health care system that is pulling down our economy. It's burdening families. It's burdening businesses. And it is the primary driver of our federal deficits. All right?
So — so if we start from the premise that the status quo is unacceptable, then that means we're going to have to bring about some serious changes. What I've said is our top priority has to be to control costs.
And that means not just tinkering around the edges. It doesn't mean just lopping of reimbursements for doctors in any given year because we're trying to fix our budget.
It means that we look at the kinds of incentives that exist, what our delivery system is like, why it is that some communities are spending 30 percent less than other communities, but getting better health care outcomes, and figuring out how can we make sure that everybody is benefiting from lower costs and better quality by improving practices. It means health I.T. It means prevention.
So all of these things are the starting point, I think, for reform. And I've said very clearly, if any bill arrives from Congress that is not controlling costs, that's not a bill I can support. It's going to have to control costs. It's going to have to be paid for. All right?
So there's been a lot of talk about, well, a trillion-dollar price tag. What I've said is, if we're going to spend that much money, then it's going to be largely funded through reallocating dollars that are already in the health care system, but aren't being spent well.
OBAMA: If we're spending $177 billion over 10 years to subsidize insurance companies under Medicare Advantage, when there's no showing that people are healthier using that program than the regular Medicare program, well, that's not a good deal for taxpayers.
And we're going to take that money and we're going to use it to provide better care at a cheaper cost to the American people. So, that's point number one.
Number two, while we are in the process of dealing with the cost issue, I think it's also wise policy and the right thing to do to start providing coverage for people who don't have health insurance or are underinsured, are paying a lot of money for high deductibles.
I get letters, two, three letters a day that I read, of families who don't have health insurance, are going bankrupt, are on the brink of losing their insurance, have deductibles that are so high that, even with insurance, they end up with $50,000, $100,000 worth of debt, are at risk of losing their homes.
And that has to be part of reform, making sure that, even if you've got health insurance now, you are not worried that, when you lose your job or your employer decides to change policies, that somehow you're going to be out of luck.
I think about the woman who was in Wisconsin that I was with, who introduced me up in Green Bay, 36 years old, double mastectomy; breast cancer has now moved to her bones. And she's got two little kids, a husband with a job. They had health insurance, but they're still $50,000 in debt.
And she's thinking, my main legacy, if I don't survive this thing, is going to be leaving $100,000 worth of debt.
So, those are the things that I'm prioritizing.
Dr. Howard Dean’s Rx for Real Health Care Reform
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Former Democratic Party Chairman Dr. Howard Dean has a new book scheduled for release on July 22, 2009 entitled Howard Dean's Prescription for Real Health Care Reform. Here is a synopsis:
Synopsis
Americans have pondered how to reform healthcare since the days of Harry Truman. But for most Americans, little has changed—except that healthcare costs have soared, health insurance companies have grown bigger and more oppressive to both doctors and patients, and today even those Americans who pay dearly for health insurance frequently find that their policies don't adequately cover them when they need their coverage most.
Something has got to give. In his bold new book, Howard Dean—the physician and former governor widely credited for reviving the Democratic Party after the 2004 elections—tells Americans what needs to be done to successfully reform healthcare. One key, he writes, is to offer Americans the option to participate in a public health insurance program, much like Medicare. "America has had 'socialized' medicine since 1964," says Dean. "It's called Medicare; it covers every American over 65, and they are very happy with the program. The rest of America deserves a similar option."
In this straight-talking guide to overcoming today's healthcare crisis, Dean spells out:
- What Obama's healthcare plan is all about
- How other countries handle healthcare
- Which special interests are standing in the way of progress and why
- How healthcare reform will help American businesses prosper
- Why Americans need choice—between private and public health insurance coverage
Millions of Americans lack health insurance; millions more pay for coverage that doesn't protect them from serious illness; and the status quo leaves Americans at the mercy of corporate interests. This persuasive argument from a passionate political strategist shows Americans how to take back the healthcare reins.
In the meantime, Dr. Dean has been hitting all of the political talk shows hard campaigning for the public health insurance option. Last night Dr. Dean was on 'Countdown with Keith Olbermann' for Monday, June 22 (emphasis mine):
OLBERMANN: If the second poll in a week shows public support for the tandem of public and private health care options nearing three quarters support from all Americans, and a key Democratic senator says she is not sure if her Democratic colleagues will support it, in our third story of the COUNTDOWN, the natural solution here, get new senators.
The new CBS News/”New York Times” poll shows 72 percent of Americans say they want a choice between a government run plan and private one, and that 57 percent are even willing to pay more taxes to get it. The poll also shows Americans trust the government more than private insurers. Half say Washington would do a better job at providing coverage; 59 percent saying it would be better at holding down costs.
Yet, this weekend Senator Dianne Feinstein called cost control such a problem that the president, even though Democrats have the numbers, may not have the votes. So today, Mr. Obama began putting pressure on the nay-sayers, bringing back his own campaign slogan, yes we can. He today pulled in AARP CEO Barry Rand to announce a deal with U.S. drug companies to cut prescription drug costs for the elderly, called the agreement a significant breakthrough on the road to health care reform.
And this week, the president begins his pitch to the people, which includes a news conference tomorrow, and a town hall meeting on Wednesday. Let‘s turn now to former governor of Vermont, former DNC chair, and author of “Howard Dean‘s Prescription For Real Health Care Reform,” Governor Howard Dean. Thank you for your time.
HOWARD DEAN, FMR. GOV. OF VERMONT: Thanks for having me on, Keith.
(Continued below the fold with video).
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