Building a Sustainable Health Care System
America’s health care system is renowned for its premier medical research facilities and life-saving innovations. Yet too many do not have access to it. That’s why we are committed to fixing what is broken without breaking what works – by improving quality, decreasing costs and increasing access.
We believe health care reform should be thoughtful, responsible and sustainable – and must get us on the path to universal coverage. Our efforts toward sustainable reform are focused on opportunities in four areas:
- Quality and Safety
- Cost
- Insurance Market Reform
- Health Care Financing
Meaningful reform must address both quality and cost issues. For many Americans, costs continue to rise without an increase in the quality of care received. By promoting evidence-based medicine, preventive care and transparency, patients will experience better health care outcomes and overall costs will decrease.
We also believe in making the health insurance market work more efficiently so that it offers more choice and extends access for all. All Americans should be able to obtain affordable coverage, but this must be done in a way that doesn’t lead to higher costs and more uninsured. We must work together to create a competitive, flexible marketplace that provides choice. After all, consumers know what’s best for them and their families.
Finally, we support health care financing reforms that increase access in a sustainable manner. Employer-based care should be expanded and individuals who purchase coverage on their own should not face additional taxes. We also support better programs for the most needy, including premium assistance and stronger public-private partnerships focused on getting more Americans insured.
Our goals may be lofty, but the issue is too important to think small. Together, we can expand access, improve quality and optimize costs – for our country, for our children and for our future.
