Public Opinion Strategies
March 13, 2003
Survey of Small, Medium and Large Businesses
When asked about the most important goal for reforming our health care
system, business leaders focus on “making health care more affordable” and
“providing basic health insurance coverage to all Americans.” Of the five
health care goals tested, the most important for business leaders is “making
health care more affordable” (51%), followed by “providing basic health
insurance coverage to all Americans” (28%). The remaining three goals are
well below the top two: “maintaining the high quality of American health
care” (11%), “making sure people can select the doctor or hospital of their
choice” (6%), and “making sure the system allows the development and
adoption of new medical technologies” (2%).
http://covertheuninsuredweek.org/media/BusinessSurveyReport.pdf
Comment: Previous polls have confirmed that 98% of the general public is
concerned about making health care more affordable. This survey confirms
that affordability is also the most important concern for businesses of all
sizes.
Perhaps the most frequent argument advanced against establishing a mechanism
that contains costs is that innovation and development of new technologies
would be suppressed. This survey confirms that this is the least concern of
businesses.
If business interests had a better understanding of the single payer model,
support would increase. Of all options under consideration, the single payer
model is the only one than can effectively contain costs, and it does so by
its specific design – using a global budget. It would also meet the other
major goal supported by businesses – providing coverage for all Americans.
It would improve quality by improving access and by adoption of an
integrated information technology system. It would ensure free choice of
providers. And it would actually improve innovation and technology by
freeing up funds currently wasted on administrative excesses which would
then increase funding of the health care delivery system which utilizes the
newer technologies.
Isn’t it time for business to take a much closer look at the single payer
model?