Obama Tells Health Care Groups to Show Him Progress on Cost-Cutting Next Month

[jefferson_dem]

POTUS Tells Health Care Groups to Show Him Progress on Cost-Cutting Next Month

POTUS Tells Health Care Groups to Show Him Progress on Cost-Cutting Next Month
May 12, 2009 4:51 PM

In a letter to the leaders of the six health care groups with whom he met yesterday, President Obama says he appreciates their commitment to significantly reducing health care costs, but says he "will hold you to your pledge to get this done."

The President writes that as he discussed with them Monday, "I would like you to update my Administration by early June on the progress you have made toward fulfilling this important commitment."

The letter to the leaders of the Advanced Medical Technology Association, the American Medical Association, America's Health Insurance Plans, the American Hospital Association, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and the Service Employees International Union says that their efforts -- "(c)oupled with comprehensive health care reform" (a distinction the White House did not make yesterday) could save the US "more than $2 trillion over the next ten years."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/05/potus-tells-hea.html

[Cleita]

1. We could save even more by cutting out the middle men of the for profit health

care industry parasites and using the money for direct health care through single payer. Why is he wasting his time with these people?
They are not trustworthy and have a business interest not a health care interest in this industry.

[uponit7771]

5. Single payer isn't something he campaigned on also I think at this point it would be too disruptive

...to the current health care community in this country.

Doing it "slow" would allow some reThugs to redefine it too much so the big punch is at the least a public option for the under\uninsured.

JusMHO

[Raven]

2. Here we go!!! It's those fine distinctions that make all the difference!

They'll say: Oh we didn't promise $2 trillion all by ourselves...we assumed the taxpayers would kick in a fistfull of $$$$...after all, we have our standard of living to maintain."

Fuck these people...just fuck them! And, Obama, that's an order!

[uponit7771]

4. Yeap, they've run the poll numbers and can see their revenue as they know it is done...

...and they're going to do what they can to slow down the public plan trade.

The reThugs I talk to would like a public plan also seeing the government ran health care is the less of evils between the two.

There are so many ways this debate can be correctly framed, I'm glad Obama has kept his powder dry.

[uponit7771]

3. They wont be able to, they're trying to do a head fake. If we don't have more congress dems stand up

...against the idea of public health care option like Bayh has done (I have my theories about him too*) then I'm shorting all health care stocks cause this thing will be a go.

* Obama's biggest resistance, like Clintons, is inside the tent not outside cause even a good number of reThugs want less expensive health insurance, I think Bayh was sent out for dems to show their hands on who's against the plan and not many stood up.

[Cha]

6. Good Luck

for the best health care reform.

[vaberella]

7. Totally. This is great news. Put the money where the talk is.

Then when the bill passes I hope O forces them into doing it where they can't fall back otherwise. In the end, they will end up gone so that's great news.

[HopeOverFear]

8. From a distance, it looks like Obama's being naive

about getting the healthcare groups to pledge lower costs. But he knows he's going to have to keep on their asses to get them to do what he wants.