The 100-Yard Daschle

Former Senator (and almost HHS Secretary) Tom Daschle keynoted the opening of the 19th Annual Partnerships in Clinical Trials conference.

He spoke at length (and in very laudatory terms) about the recent healthcare reform legislation.  Pretty much party-line material, but three things to share:

(1) Senator Daschle made the point that the US has a “healthcare market” while the rest of the developed world has a “healthcare system.” He prefers the latter. No surprise there.  But …

(2) “This reform legislation only puts us “on the 30-yard line.” I found this peculiar since he had initially referred to the new law as “comprehensive.” But then I realized that he was being honest. Draw your own conclusions, but remember -- the healthcare debate isn’t over. It’s only the beginning. And the scary thing is that the component that’s over is the transparent part.

(3) Daschle suggested, as one of the things that need to happen to advance America’s health, “a less risk-averse FDA.”  Hm.

Smart guy.  Savvy remarks.  Attention must be paid.