Another Perspective...Same Tune?
October 02, 2009 by Kim Fox
I attended AHA’s Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development’s annual conference this week. One of our keynote speakers was political analyst and CNN correspondent Paul Begala. During his remarks, he called himself an “optimist” that health reform legislation will pass this year but predicts it won’t happen until Christmas Eve.
Here are some of his other comments I found interesting:
- The single biggest reason healthcare reform will pass is that the “Democrats don’t want to lose their jobs and, thus, the majority.”
- Olympia Snowe, the Senator from Maine, is the most important player in the healthcare debate.
- Getting even one Republican vote would pass for bi-partisanship.
- The House’s focus: the public option is the best method to control cost.
- The Senate’s focus: get to 60 votes.
- If reform fails, Republicans benefit in the short term. However, in the long-term they are trading away their moderate, pro-business agenda.
- Healthcare reform is really only insurance and payment reform.
Begala also calls himself an “incrementalist” and believes Congress should pass some sort of reform legislation even if it is imperfect. It can always be amended later. He referenced several bills, such as civil rights legislation, that were passed but were improved and strengthened in later years.
With the marketing/communication professionals in attendance, there is a sense of "wait and see." They are not paralyzed, by any means, but are making both A and B plans. Like the rest of us, they are watching to see what will happen and are positioning themselves to act accordingly.
It’s another perspective, and, at the very least, consistent with what we’re hearing across the board. Again, stay tuned…
