Last Friday, the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum hosted an event titled “Impact of the 2008 Presidential Election on Health Policy.” Harvard professor Bob Blendon presented his analysis of exit polling results from the November presidential election. Stuart Altman, Phil Johnston, and Kerry Healey responded in a panel discussion on the role of health care issues in the election and what we might expect from the Obama administration. For more information and to view Professor Blendon’s slides, click here.
Some of Blendon’s key points:
Health care was the second most important priority for Obama voters; the economy was first. Within the economy, folks cared more about not being able to pay a medical bill than about stocks or mortgages. Cost and affordability are the critical needs within health reform, among Obama voters.
There was a huge gap between Obama and McCain voters on who was responsible for fixing the health care problem: Obama voters want others (the government/employers) to be accountable; McCain voters believe in individual responsibility.
Among the many possible routes to pay for health reform, an increase in taxes is not a viable option.
On his Health Business Blog, David Williams also posted some of his notes from the event and some of the panel participants’ key points.
Lindsey Tucker
Health Reform Policy Manager
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I am eighty years old and have lived in Florida for 20 years after living in Maine for 40 years and born and raised in South Dakota, and Iowa.Have been very active all my years worked owned own business, raised five children very active in helping with five Grandchildren, have had very good health in spite of five hip operations, knee operation, and broken wrist, take no prescription drugs, use supplements my major doctor is a Chriopractor, acupunturist and kenseoligist, have been messed up by greedy doctors of today, by greedy doctors filling quotas, rather than care. Now for my gripe. Here in Florida EVERY ONE has skin cancer, I would like to have this investigated to see how much is fraud, I am afraid to question the validity of their findings but when they tear up your skin and rearrange your body parts sometime leaving infection which in my case is hard to clear up. I sometimes wonder , at my age is it better to take my chances weather than go thru the torture of a constant healing process. Please look into this for all of us. Thanking you in advance.