Candidates Write Their Prescriptions
Democrats offer ideas to reform the healthcare system
Affordable healthcare seems like an oxymoron these days, but the candidates hope to change that. Edwards proposes tax credits on a sliding scale to help middle- and lower-income families buy insurance. Obama wants subsidies for families that don't qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP. All three candidates agree on market reforms that would guarantee coverage at a fair premium for everyone, regardless of any health problems, which insurers currently use to either deny coverage outright or raise premiums to a level that makes them unaffordable for many.
Recognizing that approximately 80 percent of healthcare dollars are spent on the roughly 20 percent of people suffering from chronic illnesses and other serious medical problems, it's no surprise that all three candidates are pushing care coordination for people with chronic conditions as well as focusing on preventive care to improve the overall health of the population. But with an aging population—and one that is getting fatter all the time—it's unlikely that can happen quick enough to reduce costs in the near term."It's a real leap from saying this should be the emphasis to actually changing this in the system," says Paul Ginsburg, president of the Center for Studying Health System Change.
High tech. All three candidates offer the shopworn comments about the need to improve the quality of healthcare technology. It has long been accepted that better technology could go a long way toward improving patient care. Just ask anyone who's had a record of a diagnostic test sent to the wrong facility or a prescription filled incorrectly because of a physician's illegible handwriting. But this, too, is easier said than done, and providers may be reluctant to make upfront investments in such technologies when compatibility standards and other issues haven't been resolved.
It's still the early days. None of the Republican candidates nor the other Democrats have put forward healthcare proposals to date. But that should come, say experts. "For the candidates, it's the price of admission to have a health reform proposal," says Ginsburg. "That's a reflection of how much more interest there is in this topic than in the last election." For voters who care about healthcare, this is a welcome remedy.
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