Former Legislators Plant to Craft Healthcare Policy Recommendations
Former Senators George Mitchell, a Democrat, and Robert Dole, a Republican, announced plans to work with two other former senators to create health policy recommendations for the incoming president. Tom Daschle and Howard Baker will join the two, to form a team of legislators who all previously held the post of Senate Majority Leader. News about the plans were posted in the Telegram & Gazette.
Efforts has been proposed across the years to address the inadequacies of the American healthcare system. Some blame the inability to make sustainable changes in the system on bipartisan politics. This bipartisan, well-experienced team hopes that a collaborative approach will help ameliorate this concern.
Four pillars of healthcare reform are proposed: improving access, ensuring a strong rule for consumers, improving quality and value, and finding a way to finance such. Each of the senators will take responsibility for one of these pillars.
The four have already been promised technical advice from Chris Jennings, who served as a health advisor to President Clinton, and Dr. Mark McClellan, who had oversight of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Bush.
The powerhouse group has already received some attention. The Director of Policy and Strategy at the AARP notes the importance of a bipartisan-lead initiative and the increased likelihood of programmatic success.
Moreover, the four plan to make recommendations themselves, with insight offered by various experts. It is expected that recommendations will be made by the foursome soon after the new president takes office.
April 22, 2008 Related topics: Legal & legislative, People, Partnerships & Consortia