Washington,. D.C. — Thought I would share some sound bytes from today’s speakers at the AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans) National Policy Forum
“I believe we are on the verge of better health and lower costs for all Americans.”
(Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, in praise of Bush’s value-driven health care initiative.)
“I don’t know.”
(Leavitt when asked how the implementation of the National Provider Identifier was going.)
“What can you do? You got to find the sweet spot as an agent of change without turning off the status quo. “
(Amy Walter, Senior Editor of The Cook Political Report, on how Republican candidates are approaching the upcoming elections.)
“McCain an outsider? Can’t shake that Washington smell after eight years in the Senate.”
(Walter on McCain’s presidential campaign)
“The ideologues want to see it fail.”
(Jon M. Kingsdale, Executive Director, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Health Connector Authority on Massachusetts’ plan for universal coverage.)
“Pimp my ride health care reform”
(Cindy Inez, Director California’s Department of Managed Heath Care referring to reform that has no substance)
“Arnold’s ‘leave no ox un-gored’ approach”
(Inez on everyone having to contribute to funding health care)
“Why these programs? If you’re looking to reduce costs, you should look at where the costs are.”
(Peter R. Orszag, Director, Congressional Budget Office when asked why he is eying cost reductions in Medicare and Medicaid)
“We don’t know yet what will bend that curve.”
(Orszag, on containing future increasing costs of Medicare and Medicaid)
“Costs are unsustainable and have reached a tipping point.”
(John J. Castellani, President, Business Roundtable on health care costs)
“A Republican and a Democrat walk into a bar to talk about health care. This should not sound like a joke.”
(William D. Novelli, Chief Executive Officer, AARP on working with all political stakeholders for health care reform)
“Each group brings its top priority (on health care) to the table .. everybody’s second favorite choice is the status quo.”
(Ron Pollack, Executive Director, Families USA paraphrasing Stuart Altman on why health care reform typically goes nowhere.)
“There’s probably an inverse relationship between being a front runner (in the presidential campaign) and the specificity of their plans (for health care).”
(Pollack on the political risks for presidential candidates being too specific before stakeholders buy in)
