Richard L. Gundling, FHFMAVice President, Product Development, HFMA
In his State of the Union speech last night, President Bush was far more timid on healthcare issues than I would have expected. The realities of the political and fiscal environments that he is working under have tempered his proposals. There was no large-scale ambitious plan for health care but a series of proposals to help the market forces operate more efficiently. The major thrust of his comments focused on expanded health savings accounts, electronic health records, and limiting medical malpractice litigation. President Bush again is pushing for the private sector to control healthcare costs and improve quality, which he believes, will eventually trickle down to help the uninsured. Though he did not mention many specifics in his speech, the White House did release more details of President Bush health initiatives. These include making health insurance more portable and improving information on price and quality to make health care more transparent. He also called for a commission to examine Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid and the impact from baby boomer retirees. Notably absent from his speech was any mention of Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit which became effective January 1. With the Administration struggling to implement this complex plan, senior citizens have been voicing their frustrations. Voters have immediate concerns over health care and, though President Bush didn't have anything to lose by making grand healthcare proposals, he does not want to lose a Republican majority in Congress.
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