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The latest from NAHU newswire:
In spite of emerging consensus on healthcare reform, specifics of Obama's plan remain uncertain.
The Los Angeles Times
(12/1, Levey) reports, "After decades of failed efforts to reshape the nation's healthcare system, a consensus appears to be emerging in Washington about how to achieve the elusive goal of providing medical insurance to all Americans." According to "leading groups of businesses, hospitals, doctors, labor unions and insurance companies -- as well as senior lawmakers on Capitol Hill and members of the new Obama administration," an "unprecedented government intervention to create a system of universal protection" is the solution. These groups say that "the idea of a federal, single-payer system patterned on those in Europe and Canada...is now virtually off the table," as well as "the traditionally conservative concept...of reforming healthcare mainly by giving incentives for more Americans to buy insurance on their own." In addition, "there...is a widespread understanding that any expansion of coverage must be accompanied by aggressive efforts to bring down costs and reward quality care." In spite of these "areas of basic agreement," however, "the details...remain vague," as Obama "has provided few specifics about his plans once he takes office." New administration expected to address personalized medicine. The AP
(11/29, Alonso-Zaldivar) reported that although "the pursuit of 'personalized medicine' is expected to get a major push from the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama," he "is also interested in the role that personalized medicine could play as an element of changes in the broader healthcare system." In spite of technological advances in medical science, limitations to prescription drug use remain. In fact, data indicate that "most prescription drugs are effective only in about 60 percent of treated patients, leading to a trial-and-error approach to treatment that not only may be more costly, but can put some patients at risk." These "varying responses to medications may be linked to differences in genetic makeup that affect how the body processes a drug." Obama aims to "create an interagency group to coordinate the policies of federal agencies whose decisions have an impact on the issue." He would also "establish a national 'Biobank' to pool data that could serve as a resource for scientific researchers" and increase federal funding.
Some Democratic lawmakers expect only incremental healthcare reform next year. The San Francisco Chronicle
(11/30, Coile) reported that although President-elect Barack "Obama's most difficult policy challenge will be to fix the nation's broken healthcare system," he "is pledging to pass a reform plan by the end of his first term." Obama's healthcare plan "borrows some ideas from the Clinton proposal," including "a mandate that employers insure their workers or pay into a fund for the uninsured," as well as allowing "people to buy into heath plans similar to what the federal government offers its workers." Still, Obama's "plan is not cheap," which may make it "difficult to persuade Congress and the American people to shell out that type of money." In fact, some Democratic lawmakers "suggest that only incremental reforms are likely next year," such as expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program and increased funding for states' Medicaid programs.
In spite of emerging consensus on healthcare reform, specifics of Obama's plan remain uncertain.
The Los Angeles Times
(12/1, Levey) reports, "After decades of failed efforts to reshape the nation's healthcare system, a consensus appears to be emerging in Washington about how to achieve the elusive goal of providing medical insurance to all Americans." According to "leading groups of businesses, hospitals, doctors, labor unions and insurance companies -- as well as senior lawmakers on Capitol Hill and members of the new Obama administration," an "unprecedented government intervention to create a system of universal protection" is the solution. These groups say that "the idea of a federal, single-payer system patterned on those in Europe and Canada...is now virtually off the table," as well as "the traditionally conservative concept...of reforming healthcare mainly by giving incentives for more Americans to buy insurance on their own." In addition, "there...is a widespread understanding that any expansion of coverage must be accompanied by aggressive efforts to bring down costs and reward quality care." In spite of these "areas of basic agreement," however, "the details...remain vague," as Obama "has provided few specifics about his plans once he takes office." New administration expected to address personalized medicine. The AP
(11/29, Alonso-Zaldivar) reported that although "the pursuit of 'personalized medicine' is expected to get a major push from the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama," he "is also interested in the role that personalized medicine could play as an element of changes in the broader healthcare system." In spite of technological advances in medical science, limitations to prescription drug use remain. In fact, data indicate that "most prescription drugs are effective only in about 60 percent of treated patients, leading to a trial-and-error approach to treatment that not only may be more costly, but can put some patients at risk." These "varying responses to medications may be linked to differences in genetic makeup that affect how the body processes a drug." Obama aims to "create an interagency group to coordinate the policies of federal agencies whose decisions have an impact on the issue." He would also "establish a national 'Biobank' to pool data that could serve as a resource for scientific researchers" and increase federal funding.
Some Democratic lawmakers expect only incremental healthcare reform next year. The San Francisco Chronicle
(11/30, Coile) reported that although President-elect Barack "Obama's most difficult policy challenge will be to fix the nation's broken healthcare system," he "is pledging to pass a reform plan by the end of his first term." Obama's healthcare plan "borrows some ideas from the Clinton proposal," including "a mandate that employers insure their workers or pay into a fund for the uninsured," as well as allowing "people to buy into heath plans similar to what the federal government offers its workers." Still, Obama's "plan is not cheap," which may make it "difficult to persuade Congress and the American people to shell out that type of money." In fact, some Democratic lawmakers "suggest that only incremental reforms are likely next year," such as expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program and increased funding for states' Medicaid programs.
