Lawmakers experienced fresh anger and skepticism as they fielded questions from constituents worried about changes in the healthcare system. The queries presented to legislators all over the country reflected deep-seated fears, a general suspicion of government and, in some cases, a lack of knowledge on the part of the questioners.
During a town hall meeting in New Hampshire, President Barack Obama slammed talk of euthanasia "death panels" and Medicare cuts, urging supporters to confront the opposition. At President Obama's first town-hall meeting since opponents began roiling such gatherings, questioners worried that a government-sponsored option would overwhelm the private healthcare market, and one participant said he was pushed off his name-brand high-cholesterol medication by Medicaid officials.
The battle for public opinion on a healthcare overhaul appears to be at a stalemate despite conservative activists attending town hall meetings to register their opposition. A new Gallup Poll found that support for President Obama's handling of the issue has stayed status quo over the past three weeks during the protests. In a poll conducted Aug. 6-9, 49% of Americans said they disapproved of the president's handling of healthcare and 43% approved, compared to 50% disapproval and 44% approval in a survey done July 17-19.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger conceded that long-standing delays in disciplining errant health professionals were "absolutely unacceptable" and promised broad reforms to better protect patients from dentists, pharmacists, therapists, and others accused of misconduct. Among the proposed changes: adding more investigative and legal staff, appointing an official to audit the boards and seeking legislation that would allow quicker suspension of uncooperative or jailed professionals' licenses.
Connecticut officials are calling for major changes in how rate increases are granted on individual health insurance policies. "Consumers must be empowered to stop chronic colossal rate hikes," said Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who was joined by Kevin P. Lembo, the state healthcare advocate, and lawmakers. The heart of the reforms they're seeking is a rule that rate hikes must be "reasonable," rather than simply "not excessive," as the current rule is written.
A Dallas-based company with plans for a medical trade center in Nashville has hired the former head of a Vanderbilt-linked think tank as a senior adviser. David Osborn will have responsibility for strategic development of the Nashville Medical Trade Center. Osborn was executive director of the Health Care Solutions Group, a public policy organization created by Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Nashville Health Care Council.