The American Public on Health Care-The Missing Perspective - (Page 60)

Messages on the Public’s Agenda Americans across the nation—including those who currently have health coverage—know the current system is on an unsustainable course. They are eager for pragmatic solutions that will address the realities of their lives. Messages to Presidential Candidates The American people say that your major priorities regarding health care should be to: • Cover Messages to Government Leaders (Including the Next President) Americans want their government leaders to improve accountability, control costs through market improvements, and expand coverage by helping those with low incomes obtain health insurance. Specifically, the public believes that government should: • Require Messages to Health Care Providers Americans want health care value and believe that information has the power to improve the quality and efficiency of the health care system. They want access to understandable information about performance and costs to increase the accountability of their health care providers. When evaluating the criticality of information about doctors and hospitals, the public prioritizes two performance measures above others: • Records all uninsured children— 83% say a major priority should be to cover all children; 68% say covering all who are uninsured should be a major priority. the rising costs of health care. prescription drug coverage. • Control • Improve the quality and safety of care. • Improve publicly available performance ratings of doctors and hospitals. health care providers to publish the costs of all services and procedures. all large employers to provide health coverage to full-time employees. health care providers to cover pre-existing conditions. national or regional health care exchanges so insurance can be purchased at competitive rates across state lines. assistance to low-income individuals and families to buy health insurance. • Require of medical mistakes. The public is listening to what you are saying about health care and looking to you to find practical solutions that reflect their priorities. A majority of the public says that answers to the following questions are critical to help them understand where you stand on health care reform: • How • How • How • Whether • Require they consistently follow standards and guidelines in diagnosing and treating patients. to conventional wisdom, most Americans are willing to share their health information among their doctors and researchers to improve the quality of care. Most favor the use of electronic health records systems to: doctors shared access to their medical records, with permission. researchers their health information anonymously in large databases to study and compare the effectiveness of specific interventions and treatments. • Require • Contrary • Create will you pay for what you propose? much will it cost taxpayers? will your plan control the cost of health care? will it help cover the uninsured? will it improve the quality of health care? • Provide • Give • Give • How • How 60

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