Health Care Plans Are Debated

 

 

The U.S. Chamber invited advocates of the major presidential campaigns to make the case for their respective candidate's health care reform plan during a panel discussion on April 16 at Chamber headquarters.

 

Dr. Nicole Lurie, Dr. Gail Wilensky, and Gary Gensler, representing the campaigns of Sen. Barack Obama (D), Sen. John McCain (R), and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D), respectively, traded barbs as they explained why their candidate had the best plan for moving the United States toward a health care system of higher quality, lower costs, and greater access for all Americans. The debate took place in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Chamber's Council on Small Business.

 

All three presidential candidates have "plans that seek to stimulate competition and make the market more viable," Lurie said. The Obama and Clinton plans focus on increased access and getting "all Americans in," according to Gensler, and would do so by requiring employers to provide some level of coverage or pay into a national insurance program. 

 

McCain's plan steers away from mandates and instead offers a $5,000 tax credit for families and a $2,500 credit for individuals who purchase insurance. He is more focused than the Democratic candidates on reining in escalating costs, Wilensky said. "Health care reform is not just about expanded coverage. The most serious issue we're facing is unsustainable health care spending."

 

All three of the presidential contenders agree on the need to expand health information technology and focus on prevention and wellness.

 

The event attracted more than 400 online participants and a live audience of 150.

Visit www.uschamber.com/goto/healthdebate to watch the webcast. See how the candidates compare on health care by visiting www.uschamber.com/healthplans.