PFCD Executive Director Optimistic About Opportunity for Health Care Reform Early in New Administration, Congress
Policies to Fight Chronic Disease Will Factor Large in Bipartisan Reform Packages
Washington, D.C. (Nov. 17, 2008) -- Today, Ken Thorpe, Executive Director of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease and former Clinton Administration official, spoke about the likelihood of the Obama Administration taking up health reform early next year. While he noted that many are speculating that the issue will be tough to address, Thorpe suggested that the new administration is well positioned to deliver reform.
"If the Obama Administration wants to do health reform, the potential for moving major legislation is greater now than at any point in recent history," Thorpe said. "The public broadly supports reforming health care, the Administration has support from key leaders in Congress who will help to drive change, and just as importantly, there is bipartisan support for reform in a number of key policy areas."
Thorpe noted that key Democratic Congressional leadership are releasing policy proposals that will serve as “legislative vehicles” for the Obama administration, such as the proposal released last week by Senator Max Baucus (D-MO), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
"Senator Baucus’ health care proposal release sends the signal that the Senate will be placing priority on health reform as it heads into the next session, and it provides momentum for a robust discussion about health care reform -- even before Obama takes office," said Thorpe.
On the political front, Thorpe said that while conversations about financing are likely to be contentious as always, there is broad opportunity for bipartisan consensus around specific ideas and policies contained in the Obama and Baucus plans - especially in the areas of fighting chronic disease.
"Enacting policies that help Americans get and stay healthier and fight diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, are policies that people from both sides of the aisle can get behind -- and we are seeing them do just that," he said, noting such changes were supported by Obama, Senator McCain, and a number of Congressional Republicans and Democrats during the campaign.
"As we can already see, many things are different in this round of health reform discussions than the last," he said. "One is process, another is politics, and, we can hope, that another will be outcome."
Click here to a recording of the call and download a transcript »
About the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease:
The PFCD is a national coalition of more than 100 patient, provider, community, business and labor groups, committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs in the U.S.: poorly prevented and mismanaged chronic disease.
The PFCD's mission is to:
- Challenge policymakers - in particular, the 2008 presidential candidates - to make fighting chronic disease a top priority and discuss how they will address it in their health care proposals
- Educate the public about chronic disease and potential solutions for individuals, communities, and the nation
- Mobilize Americans to call for change in how policymakers, governments, employers, health institutions, and other entities approach chronic disease
For more information about the PFCD and its partner organizations, please visit: http://www.fightchronicdisease.org.
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