Hillary says she has never been in favor of socialized medicine

[GaryC 7]

"Oh man, there are so many misrepresentations there I need more time to answer," she said. The notion that she favored socialized medicine was a myth of the right wing, said the candidate whose greatest failure in public life was the defeat of her health care reform plan. That setback, during her husband's first term in office, is credited with helping Republicans seize control of Congress in 1994.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/.../566642571.html

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don’t support HC as I’ve said – but I think there are a lot of misconceptions about what socialized healthcare actually is – and from what she’s said here I think she may have a point…

Has she actually suggested that the insurance system should be scrapped and that hospitals and healthcare workers become government employees? That’s generally what socialized healthcare is – where hospitals and staff are employed, funded and operated by a government department – with a varying amount of (controlled) private sector investment.

From what I’ve read – she has advocated the government subsidizing some insurance premiums, but that’s a far cry from the above…

[one...two...tree 2,762]

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)

Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton on Thursday took aim at spiraling health care costs, outlining a seven-part plan that she said would cut national health spending by $120 billion a year by boosting preventive-medicine efforts, using souped-up information technology and other measures.

"Our present system is outdated, ineffective, and unsustainable. But we know we can spend far less and create an efficient, high-quality health care system for all Americans," the New York senator said in remarks prepared for delivery at George Washington University. "The key is to modernize our health care infrastructure and demand a better return on our investment."

Rising health-care costs are expected to be a top domestic-policy issue in the 2008 presidential election. Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois has said he would move to enact universal health coverage. Another Democrat, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, has said he's willing to boost taxes to pay for covering millions of uninsured.

Meanwhile, a growing chorus of corporations have joined in calls for universal health care - a major change from President Bill Clinton's first term, when Hillary Clinton took heavy political fire as the sweeping health-care proposal she helped design collapsed amid a corporate-led campaign that highlighted worries about government meddling.

The plan outlined by Clinton on Thursday calls for a national initiative aimed at reducing obesity, diabetes and cancer, requiring all insurers that participate in federal programs to cover a number of preventive procedures. It also would coordinate public spending across federal programs to maximize "high-priority prevention."

On the technology front, Clinton's plan calls for the creation of a "paperless" health information-technology system.

The 14-page plan also outlined proposals to improve outcomes of the chronically ill, who usually incur catastrophic expenses and are a key driver of rising health-care costs.

Clinton criticized health insurers for steering clear of Americans with expensive, pre-existing conditions, and called for ending insurance discrimination. Under the plan, a "guarantee-issue" system would allow anyone to join an insurance plan and would bar insurers from carving out benefits or charging higher rates to people with health problems.

Wider coverage would reduce administrative costs by forcing insurers to compete on lowering costs and improving quality, the Clinton outline said.

The plan also calls for some medical malpractice reforms, including a program that would provide liability protections for physicians who disclose medical errors to patients and offer to enter into negotiations for fair compensation.

William L. Watts is a reporter for MarketWatch.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/hill...A8C9995A4FE7%7D

[almaty 19]

damn, i support a change in health care in this country...so, a regular joe or jane, can get care without mortaging their house in co-pay...socialized is fine with me...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)

Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton on Thursday took aim at spiraling health care costs, outlining a seven-part plan that she said would cut national health spending by $120 billion a year by boosting preventive-medicine efforts, using souped-up information technology and other measures.

"Our present system is outdated, ineffective, and unsustainable. But we know we can spend far less and create an efficient, high-quality health care system for all Americans," the New York senator said in remarks prepared for delivery at George Washington University. "The key is to modernize our health care infrastructure and demand a better return on our investment."

Rising health-care costs are expected to be a top domestic-policy issue in the 2008 presidential election. Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois has said he would move to enact universal health coverage. Another Democrat, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, has said he's willing to boost taxes to pay for covering millions of uninsured.

Meanwhile, a growing chorus of corporations have joined in calls for universal health care - a major change from President Bill Clinton's first term, when Hillary Clinton took heavy political fire as the sweeping health-care proposal she helped design collapsed amid a corporate-led campaign that highlighted worries about government meddling.

The plan outlined by Clinton on Thursday calls for a national initiative aimed at reducing obesity, diabetes and cancer, requiring all insurers that participate in federal programs to cover a number of preventive procedures. It also would coordinate public spending across federal programs to maximize "high-priority prevention."

On the technology front, Clinton's plan calls for the creation of a "paperless" health information-technology system.

The 14-page plan also outlined proposals to improve outcomes of the chronically ill, who usually incur catastrophic expenses and are a key driver of rising health-care costs.

Clinton criticized health insurers for steering clear of Americans with expensive, pre-existing conditions, and called for ending insurance discrimination. Under the plan, a "guarantee-issue" system would allow anyone to join an insurance plan and would bar insurers from carving out benefits or charging higher rates to people with health problems.

Wider coverage would reduce administrative costs by forcing insurers to compete on lowering costs and improving quality, the Clinton outline said.

The plan also calls for some medical malpractice reforms, including a program that would provide liability protections for physicians who disclose medical errors to patients and offer to enter into negotiations for fair compensation.

William L. Watts is a reporter for MarketWatch.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/hill...A8C9995A4FE7%7D

Doesn't sound like socialised healthcare.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

"Our present system is outdated, ineffective, and unsustainable. But we know we can spend far less and create an efficient, high-quality health care system for all Americans,"

I hate to say it but the woman's got a point here.

[GaryC 7]

Doesn't sound like socialised healthcare.

Her original plan in 1993 was. I have a link here to the original plan. Way too long and complicated to post here or for me to even comment on it. Make up your own mind what it should have been called.

http://www.ibiblio.org/nhs/NHS-T-o-C.html

[natty bumppo 297]

Whoa ... HC ... socialized health care ... I've seen this before.

HC .. please go home and take care of your family.

[Peikko 1,575]

And this is meant to be politics? Give me a break!

[*julez* 124]

I can see why this is so upsetting. Affordable health care is not needed in the US at all. Ever. Please, lynch the b*tch for even suggesting such folly.

[natty bumppo 297]

I can see why this is so upsetting. Affordable health care is not needed in the US at all. Ever. Please, lynch the b*tch for even suggesting such folly.

maybe I need to contact my co-workers to better understand the UK public health care ... and my co-workers legal action against the company ... when they were forced to use the public health care.

[Peikko 1,575]

This makes sense? Hmmm

[natty bumppo 297]

At what cost to people who are working?

Comparing the US system to the UK or any other country ... apples and oranges.

[GeordieWife 1]

Socialized medicine has it's problems and challenges too and is clearly not the answer either. Many may believe parents should do whatever it takes to make sure the kids are taken care of to have insurance. As a school nurse, I see MANY kids do without medical and dental care that is URGENT (but not life threatening enough to warrant an ER visit which will be treated regardless of ability to pay). So I feel torn in my political preferences because I've seen children...innocent and not at fault, suffer. CHILDREN suffer with pain and disability because their parents are not poor enough for indigent care, but not well off enough to pay what it takes for insurance or pay for healthcare outright. The TEXCARE or CHIPS program has been TAKEN AWAY from some families because of budget cuts (parents make marginally too much money). It's inexplicably heartbreaking to see kids suffer because of our healthcare system is at the mercy of politics. I just want these kids cared for. SIGH. These budget cuts are often the result of bills passed by REPUBLICANS who vehemently are against abortion, but will let children suffer in pain because their parents can't afford care. I just find it a little hypocritical.

Edited August 11, 2007 by GeordieLover

[*julez* 124]

At what cost to people who are working?

Comparing the US system to the UK or any other country ... apples and oranges.

Either way we all pay, but with what I now pay through my employer for health insurance with very few actual benefits, I'd much rather pay into something that will provide affordable care for all. My copayments are ridiculous and I believe children should receive health care with no copayments. Children should be covered 100%. Period. End of story.