The Center for Medicine in the Public Interest (the public policy institute home of drugwonks.com) is a member of the Health Policy Consensus Group, an affiliation of policy experts from major market-oriented think tanks and others who work together to advance patient-centered ideas for health reform.
That group has many ideas about how to move healthcare reform ahead in an expeditious and responsible way -- but our immediate concern is with many of the programs being both implemented and considered by the new administration.
First do no harm.
To that end we have issues the following statement:
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Would the health reform prescriptions offered
by President Obama and Congressional leaders help patients?
From the Health Policy Consensus Group
President Obama repeatedly has reassured the American people, “If you've got health care already, and probably the majority of you do, then you can keep your plan if you are satisfied with it. You can keep your choice of doctor.” Research shows 82 percent of Americans rate the health care they receive as good to excellent.
- A new government health insurance plan
- An employer "play-or-pay" mandate
- A uniform, government-defined package of benefits
- A mandate that individuals must purchase insurance
- A National Health Insurance Exchange extending federal regulatory powers over private insurance
- Federal interference in the practice of medicine through a federal health board, comparative effectiveness review, and other government intrusions into medical decision-making
As to why we explain below why we believe these ideas would diminish individual Americans’ freedom and control over their personal health decisions, please see the complete Statement on Health Reform here.
There are many problems that need to be addressed in the health sector, and the signatories to this statement have written extensively about our ideas for reform. Because the reform agenda is moving rapidly through Congress, we believe the American public should be aware of the likely impact of the policies described in this statement which are under active consideration by elected leaders.
We believe that the proposals put forth by the Administration and Congressional leaders would harm, not help, patients and would not fulfill the goals and promises made to the American people.
