Where the Candidates Stand on Health Care
On Nov. 20, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) released "Beyond the Sound Bite," a 60-page report summarizing presidential candidates' proposals for health reform.
PwC's Health Research Institute compiled the report based on surveys of candidates' campaigns, analysis of campaign statements, research on health industry and government policy trends, and interviews with provider, payer, employer, pharmaceutical and life sciences leaders.
PwC sent surveys to official candidates who averaged at least 10 percent of the vote in national polls for the Democratic or Republican nomination as of Sept. 15, 2007. Those candidates, in alphabetical order, were Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson.
According to PwC, all seven candidates had the opportunity to validate the accuracy of the report prior to its release. PwC noted that Thompson, who entered the race in September, had not released his plan as of mid-November; therefore, the report includes only some of his statements about health care. PwC said the information contained in the report is up to date as of Nov. 1, 2007.
So, where do we start when trying to digest PwC's research?
The report establishes that the major health-related issues of the 2008 presidential election can be categorized into three primary topics:
1) covering the rising uninsured population;
2) modifying tax rules to support health systems changes;
3) controlling health costs and improving quality of care.
PwC summarized its overall findings as follows:
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The Democratic presidential candidates promise broader and more immediate changes than their Republican counterparts, with new mandates, programs and funding. In contrast, Republican proposals rely on indirect approaches, such as changes in tax incentives that could move insurance away from an employer-based model.
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Candidates' proposals call for the federal government to spend more, at least initially, to pay for health care through either additional tax credits/deductions or expansion of health programs. However, the report notes, most candidates say their plans would temper the future rate of health-spending growth.
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None of the surveyed candidates propose a single-payer system. Therefore, the report states, the industry's future hinges on a public/private system.
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The candidates propose a variety of different approaches for employment-based coverage. The proposals range from no employer involvement in coverage to a requirement that employers pay.
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The market for individual insurance could receive a boost through Republican tax credits or Democratic proposals to require individuals to buy health insurance.
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With the exception of candidate Romney, Democrats are talking to voters about health care at least twice as often as Republicans. Clinton, Edwards, Obama and Romney are discussing health care almost equally.
We'll continue to extract highlights from the PwC report in upcoming blog entries. The full report is available for download following online registration.