The public believes that the Democrats would reform healthcare?
USA TODAY/Gallup poll
Conducted October 20-22, 2006
1. Suppose the Democrats win control of both houses of Congress in this year’s elections. Do you think Congress would be likely - or not likely — to do each of the following after the Democrats take control in January?
Pass legislation to provide healthcare insurance to those who do not have it
60% - Likely
37% - Not likely
3% - No opinion
2. Suppose the Democrats win control of both houses of Congress in this year’s elections and try to do each of the following after they take control in January. Please say whether you would approve or disapprove of that action.
Pass legislation to provide healthcare insurance to those who do not have it
79% - Approve
17% - Disapprove
4% - No opinion
http://www.usatoday.com/news/polls/tables/live/2006-10-25-poll.htm
Comment:
By Don McCanne, MD
Would a Democratic Congress be likely to pass legislation to provide coverage for the uninsured? With the exception of improving outreach for children through the SCHIP program, the Democratic leadership has made it clear that comprehensive reform will not be on the agenda. The 60 percent of Americans who believe reform is likely in 2007 simply haven’t been listening.
The more important finding in this poll is that four-fifths of Americans do approve of legislation that would provide health insurance to those who do not have it. So could a Democratic Congress move the process forward?
Emphatically, yes!
Most of the Democrats do support universal coverage, and many of them specifically support a program of national health insurance. They have introduced many bills that have never had a hearing because the agenda has been controlled by the Republican leadership. With the Democrats in control, comprehensive proposals for universal coverage would have high profile hearings. Although President Bush would veto any proposal with significant government funding, the two years would provide the opportunity to better inform the public on their options. Many political analysts believe that health care will be a leading issue in the 2008 presidential elections.
It is regretted that this message is partisan, but Republican partisanship has kept reform off of the agenda. We need a new approach. The Democrats could lead by joining with the Republicans in an agreement to set ideology aside and tackle the problems based on the major advances that have been made in health policy science. The common political ground should not be based on a partisan process that trades away beneficial health policies in the name of compromise. Instead, the process should be based on a precise definition of the problems and a consideration of the various policies that would rectify those problems.
We can abbreviate this process. The homework has already been done. Single payer is the answer.