04/24/2008
NFIB hosted the second of four healthcare forums, a series of interactive discussions with policy experts on the future of healthcare reform. Through these forums, NFIB continues to demonstrate its importance as a convener and leader in serious healthcare reform discussions, ensuring that the voice of small business is represented. NFIB's senior healthcare adviser, Robert Graboyes, Ph.D., moderated the event.
"Cost vs. Coverage: What's the Priority?", held April 24, brought together high-level advisers from each of the three top presidential campaigns to talk about the policies they believe will create effective healthcare reform.
The presidential candidates were represented by their healthcare policy counselors:
- Katherine Hayes, J.D., for Sen. Hillary Clinton,
- Doug Holtz-Eakin, Ph.D., for Sen. John McCain, and
- Kavita Patel, M.D., for Sen. Barack Obama.
Speaking about the diverse panel, Graboyes said, "We're especially fortunate to have the perspectives of a lawyer, an economist and a doctor all on one panel, since reform entails complex questions in each of their fields."
Each of the 2008 presidential candidates have shared a framework of their healthcare plan; these plans are an indication of what reform may look like in the next administration. While there were some differences between the advisers, there were also surprising similarities, and not just between the two democrats. One of these similarities was personal accountability, another was improving the quality of healthcare.
All of the candidates recognize that individuals must shoulder some of the responsibility for healthcare costs by making smart decisions about their lifestyle. However, Hayes noted that many people don't have access to the tools and information they need to make informed healthcare decisions. Patel encouraged attendees to recognize that healthcare is a deeply personal issue, and sometimes smart choices are clouded by emotions.
Improving quality was also noted as an important part of driving down costs. Holtz-Eakin said that the overall goal should be better quality care because improving access to preventative medicine and reigning-in medical error will decrease costs significantly. The panelists also weighed in on the benefits and challenges of introducing more significant quality checks on practicing physicians.
With such high-level advisers from each of the presidential candidates' campaigns participating, the forum provided more evidence that candidates, lawmakers and policymakers are recognizing that realistic healthcare reform must take into account the needs of small business. Because when it's fixed for small business, it's fixed for America.
The forum series is being recorded and broadcast by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The full program of today's event can be viewed as a webcast on their site by tomorrow at 10 a.m.
