Americans are increasingly unable to get medical care. This has sparked national outrage and made health reform a major issue in the 2008 presidential elections. Candidates from both political sides are offering ideas to reform the current system of health care.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain supports taking steps to de-elect the insurance market. He believes this would allow for more insurance options. McCain believes that competition will result in lower costs. McCain also suggested a plan to allow individuals to purchase insurance through associations and organizations, making it cheaper for those who are not covered by their employer.
Democratic presidential candidates Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama would offer affordable public and private insurance options. Clinton proposed insurance mandates that would force everyone to purchase health insurance. Obama and Clinton both proposed insurance mandates that would require all employees to have health insurance.
All three candidates support tax breaks for low income Americans and oppose laws that prohibit the importation of cheaper drugs from other nations.
Some medical and health associations offer additional solutions that emphasize physician involvement. American College of Cardiology (ACC), has proven that health care providers can take full responsibility for quality and medical care. Because 40 percent of Medicare is used for heart disease treatment, cardiologists are the leaders in innovative reforms to the health system.
The College is active in the development and promotion of national standards for performance measures and electronic medical records. The standardization of electronic records ensures that care is coordinated across all sites and sources, improving patient value. The ACC has helped to create and maintain clinical practice guidelines that are focused on quality care.
According to the ACC, the bottom line is that national efforts for overhauling the health care system must be based on quality improvements, participation of health care providers, and partnership with patients. The ACC is committed to supporting its members in delivering quality care. It also works to influence policymakers in order to improve the alignment of the health care system so that it supports the delivery evidence-based and patient-focused care.
