Health Reform is the Most Important Domestic Policy Issue

Nurses Activism

Published

Summary of the Testimony of Senator Tom Daschle

Distinguished Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

Committee on Energy and Commerce

U.S. House of Representatives

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Health Reform is the Most Important Domestic Policy Issue

* It affects our health, security, and global competitiveness

One of the Obstacles to Reforms is Myths

* Myth one: We have the "best" system, when in reality there are islands of excellence in a sea of mediocrity

* Myth two : We cannot afford reform, when the reality is we can't afford the status quo

* Myth three: We don't "ration" care, when we have the worst kind of rationing: by income and illness, by age and disability

Recent Efforts Have Focused on Incremental Reform

* There have been a number of major pushes for comprehensive reform in the U.S.

* Since the last one, energy has been spent on incremental reform

* What has been done, and should be done this year - SCHIP, mental health parity, genetic non-discrimination, for example, -- are critical and meaningful

* But such policies are plugging the holes in a failing system

Comprehensive Reform of the Health System and Beyond Is Needed

* New leadership is needed, including businesses, with the goal being an accessible, affordable, and quality-based health system for all by 2012

* A new framework is needed, which allows for private delivery in a public system

* Health reform is necessary but not sufficient to deal with the 21st century health challenges - in particular that of obesity and chronic disease

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/04/pdf/daschle_testimony.pdf

Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.

Commonwealth Fund on candidates' reform proposals

(Don McCanne)

"Of the three basic models for reform, the Republican proposals that

would use tax incentives for purchasing private, individual health

plans can be dismissed as being non-responsive to the key principles

listed."

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Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, PH, CM.
I think it rather does.

You can't criticize the profits of insurance and pharmacuetical companies with an credibility when you supported self-enrichment from the same activity by a different means, especially in a manner that provided no benefit to the system itself. At least insurance companies provide compensation and pharmacuetical companies provide therapies. What contribution did her husband make? He only took.

Ordering stock medications for my public health clinic and a family medicine practice turned out to be an eye-opening experience in terms of the criticism Drug Companies draw from the public. No one thinks about the mark-up at the pharmacy level - that's where the money is. For example, I bought oral contraceptives (top brand) for $2.35/pack. Local pharmacies charge $30. or more for that same pack of pills. I realize that Public Health earns the lowest price by law, but large pharmacy chains enjoy enough buying power to negotiate good prices from suppliers. Same thing at Hopkins, I ordered a 25-vial box of Albuterol Neb soln for $5.20. If we ran out and couldn't wait for out delivery, I would run to the pharmacy for an emergency supply. Same box - $25.80. Where's the money???? I know drug companies make a bundle, but the cost of bringing a new drug to market is out of sight, especially since you only have 6 or 7 years of patent time to recoup your costs. There are a few unscrupulous companies out there, like the one that broke our Health Dept budget during the Anthrax scare in Maryland because they wouldn't give us a discount on Cipro, but most give back a little bit. I have always had good luck getting free meds from companies when I had patients on chronic meds they couldn't afford. I would love to hear the pharmacy chains defend themselves, but few people realize just how much they make. By the way, kudos to WalMart and Target for their $4 generic prescriptions, the list is a good one too.

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Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.
Ordering stock medications for my public health clinic and a family medicine practice turned out to be an eye-opening experience in terms of the criticism Drug Companies draw from the public. No one thinks about the mark-up at the pharmacy level - that's where the money is. For example, I bought oral contraceptives (top brand) for $2.35/pack. Local pharmacies charge $30. or more for that same pack of pills. I realize that Public Health earns the lowest price by law, but large pharmacy chains enjoy enough buying power to negotiate good prices from suppliers. Same thing at Hopkins, I ordered a 25-vial box of Albuterol Neb soln for $5.20. If we ran out and couldn't wait for out delivery, I would run to the pharmacy for an emergency supply. Same box - $25.80. Where's the money???? I know drug companies make a bundle, but the cost of bringing a new drug to market is out of sight, especially since you only have 6 or 7 years of patent time to recoup your costs. There are a few unscrupulous companies out there, like the one that broke our Health Dept budget during the Anthrax scare in Maryland because they wouldn't give us a discount on Cipro, but most give back a little bit. I have always had good luck getting free meds from companies when I had patients on chronic meds they couldn't afford. I would love to hear the pharmacy chains defend themselves, but few people realize just how much they make. By the way, kudos to WalMart and Target for their $4 generic prescriptions, the list is a good one too.

Costs of drugs to consumers are relative to their premiums (e.g. $4. plan), and the taxes involved. I (not on that plan) went to one of the $4. pharmacies for HCTZ # 90, and while Costco charges $14. for the same amount, that store wanted $30.+ Naturally, I spent the extra gas necessary to hotfoot it over to Costco to fill my prescription..........

Neither store advises patients to avoid licorice while on HCTZ, which causes the expense for that diuretic to be in vain. (Sigh) :twocents:

Canada managed to negotiate much lower prices for the medications its populace requires, which is why so many Americans went there (including me) for their meds. However, since I have family there, I go to a pharmacist known well by my sister. Time isn't wasted there, comparing prices, as all meds (except a few) are paid by the government, and don't vary in price. You just choose the one closest to home or on your way home (often right in the underground subway shopping area in Toronto and Montreal), and with faster, courteous service (which is sometimes lacking at Costco). Yes, when I get my life together, I'll go back.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, PH, CM.
" ...We don't have universal health care in this country because powerful corporations who profit from health care beat us. The pharmaceutical companies stole our tax money when they successfully lobbied, maybe the better words are "bullied" and "threatened," their way into protecting their industry from that old free market practice of bargaining for the best price..." Elizabeth Edwards

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/edwards_rage07/?lk=4776978-4776978-0-27492-ZdAH2HM9Aj06esdtwhVj0jD-NDKPdgjZ

Please tell me you are not quoting Elizabeth Edwards, wife of John? Female malpractice attorney who, with her husband, has made millions in medical malpractice, thus driving up the cost of our healthcare????? Must be another Elizabeth Edwards......

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Specializes in Med Surg, Tele, PH, CM.
Hardly imaginable it seems.

We will still make mistakes, and it should be remediated. Unfortunately, a universal, single-payer/socialized system will never support the gargantuan settlements won in today's litigation. In fact, I would expect malpractice incidents to increase because the rationing of services would likely lead to an increase in misdiagnosis.

It is very difficult to sue the Federal Government, so the one good thing that woule evolve from universal hc is tort reform.

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Please tell me you are not quoting Elizabeth Edwards, wife of John? Female malpractice attorney who, with her husband, has made millions in medical malpractice, thus driving up the cost of our healthcare????? Must be another Elizabeth Edwards......

Regardless of the messenger our healthcare and medication costs are overpriced.

I think profit and multimillion dollar pay to executives who don't provide any healthcare keep the costs rising.

Maybe it would be more equitable for doctors and nurses to make the higher pay?

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