FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHT Grades Obama’s Speech to Congress
Over 1,200 Respondents used the Center for Health Transformation’s (CHT) 10-point checklist to rate the president’s speech to Congress on Wednesday night. Of the responses, an overwhelming majority ranked the president’s plan below average.
Washington, DC – September 10, 2009 – In response to President Obama’s healthcare speech to Congress on Wednesday night, CHT asked viewers to decide for themselves using a 10-point checklist if the President’s speech properly addressed key areas of health reform, including major litigation reform, the elimination of fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid, and an increase in preventative medicine among others.
As lawmakers returned to Washington from August recess, all eyes were on President Obama this Wednesday to regain control of health reform. CHT used a 10-point checklist to grade the president to ensure that any major health reform effort had the following key components:
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Litigation Reform;
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Reduction of fraud, waste and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid;
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Rejection of higher taxes to pay for reform;
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Rejection of all government rationing of health services;
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Rejection of a government run health plan;
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Creation of four or five bipartisan bills as opposed to a 1000-plus page omnibus.
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Ensuring bipartisan support by sustaining the Senate rule of 60 votes to pass a bill
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Increase in power, information and choice to individuals
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A focus on health, wellness, prevention and early detection
An investment in science and technology in order to increase innovation and medical breakthroughs.
“While our website poll indicates that 83 percent of respondents gave President Obama’s speech a rating of 30 percent or less, it is encouraging that 50 percent did give him positive marks on one to three of the 10 items. This supports our contention that there are a few specific, smaller healthcare reform bills that could gain bipartisan support,” said Nancy Desmond, CHT President and CEO.
“We continue to encourage the president to abandon plans for a large omnibus bill that will greatly expand government bureaucracy and spending and instead reach across the aisle to create four or five smaller, more specific bills.”
To grade the president’s speech using CHT’s 10-point checklist, please visit our website.
About the Center for Health Transformation (CHT)
The Center for Health Transformation is a high-impact collaboration of private and public sector leaders committed to creating a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that saves lives and saves money for all Americans.
For more information, please visit www.healthtransformation.net. For interviews with one of CHT’s health experts, please contact Alissa Momberg at 202.375.2001.
Copyright © 2009. Center for Heath Transformation.
