Rx Vote: Politics & Healthcare

1. Rx Vote: Politics & Healthcare AMSA October Observance By: Micah Evans VP & Webmaster

2. Purpose Healthcare services are limited for most American families. Families are unable to pay and receive treatment for long-term or short-term illnesses because of income. America needs to make a change in helping those in need for a better future. Therefore, whom ever WE elect as president, has that responsibility.

3. Current Healthcare Conditions • Low to Middle-class income families/individuals can not afford health insurance • Older citizens are not covered by their insurance policies to purchase low-cost medications • 47 million people living in the United States lack health insurance (Source: www.johnmccain.com) • Working individuals with poor health plan benefits can not support families

4. MAKE HEALTH INSURANCE WORK FOR PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES - NOT JUST INSURANCE AND DRUG COMPANIES. Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions so all Americans regardless of their health status or history can get comprehensive benefits at fair and stable premiums. Create a new Small Business Health Tax Credit to help small businesses provide affordable health insurance to their employees. Lower costs for businesses by covering a portion of the catastrophic health costs they pay in return for lower premiums for employees. Prevent insurers from overcharging doctors for their malpractice insurance and invest in proven strategies to reduce preventable medical errors. Make employer contributions more fair by requiring large employers that do not offer coverage or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of their employees health care. Ensure everyone who needs it will receive a tax credit for their premiums. REDUCE COSTS AND SAVE A TYPICAL AMERICAN FAMILY UP TO $2,500 AS REFORMS PHASE IN: Lower drug costs by allowing the importation of safe medicines from other developed countries, increasing the use of generic drugs in public programs and taking on drug companies that block cheaper generic medicines from the market Require hospitals to collect and report health care cost and quality data Reduce the costs of catastrophic illnesses for employers and their employees. Reform the insurance market to increase competition by taking on anticompetitive activity that drives up prices without improving quality of care. The Obama-Biden plan will promote public health. A Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility: Barack Obama will pay for his $50 - $65 billion health care reform effort by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for Americans earning more than $250,000 per year and retaining the estate tax at its 2009 level. Obama/Biden’s Plan Source: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/

5. John McCain Will Reform The Tax Code To Offer More Choices Beyond Employer-Based Health Insurance Coverage. While still having the option of employer-based coverage, every family will receive a direct refundable tax John McCain Believes The Key To Health Care Reform Is To Restore Control To The Patients Themselves. We want a system of health care in which everyone can afford and acquire the treatment and preventative care they need. Health care should be available to all and not limited by where you work or how much you make. Families should be in charge of their health care dollars and have more control over care.Establish A Guaranteed Access Plan. Guaranteed Access Plan or GAP - that would reflect the best experience of the states to ensure these patients have access to health coverage. One approach would establish a nonprofit corporation that would contract with insurers to cover patients who have been denied insurance and could join with other state plans to enlarge pools and lower overhead costs. There would be reasonable limits on premiums, and assistance would be available for Americans below a certain income level.CHEAPER DRUGS: Lowering Drug Prices. John McCain will look to bring greater competition to our drug markets through safe re-importation of drugs and faster introduction of generic drugs. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Greater Use Of Information Technology To Reduce Costs. We should promote the rapid deployment of 21st century information systems and technology that allows doctors to practice across state lines.MEDICAID AND MEDICARE: Reforming The Payment System To Cut Costs. We must reform the payment systems in Medicaid and Medicare to compensate providers for diagnosis, prevention and care coordination. Medicaid and Medicare should not pay for preventable medical errors or mismanagement.SMOKING: Promoting The Availability Of Smoking Cessation Programs. Most smokers would love to quit but find it hard to do so. Working with business and insurance companies to promote availability, we can improve lives and reduce chronic disease through smoking cessation programs.STATE FLEXIBILITY: Encouraging States To Lower Costs. States should have the flexibility to experiment with alternative forms of access, coordinated payments per episode covered under Medicaid, use of private insurance in Medicaid, alternative insurance policies and different licensing schemes for providers. McCain/Palin’s Plan Source:http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm

6. Results Healthcare will change for all whomever is president. Families will have the option to make changes to their current healthcare policies to reach stability in future wellness. The new policies presented will either save or lose our dollars, but that is our duty as citizens to exercise our voices and VOTE!

7. Register to vote (GA deadline October 6) Vote Now! If unable to vote, vote absentee Watch & listen to election updates, debates, activists, join groups and view other media resources to make the wise choice for yourself and family How to Make A Difference?

8. Other AMSA News • CSU Homecoming October 18th Activity: Decorate Dr. Clower’s Door When? Thursday, Oct. 16th, @ 3:30 pm Where? Dr. Clower’s Office A31-B in Administrative Bldg. Who? AMSA members & volunteers • Nutrition Observance for November & December - “Brown Bag Drive” TBA - College Students Diet Panel TBA