Ensuring Access to Health Care

Abstract

TODAY, A FAMILY’S ABILITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL ITS members receive the quality health care they deserve is challenged like never before. The number of uninsured has increased by 5 million since 2000 to a record-high of 45 million. You witness this everyday as you care for patients. Together, we must reverse this trend. As a fair and just society, we need to grant access to those who lack coverage, and we must also ensure that those who already have coverage can continue to afford it in a time of rising health care costs. My health care plan does both. It expands coverage to all children and millions of low-income adults, and it reduces health premiums for families with existing coverage by approximately 10%, or up to $1000, through a premium rebate pool. The Kerry-Edwards plan also focuses on improving the quality of care delivered and expanding the use of health information technology to help cut costs and provides seed dollars to help clinicians pay the capital costs of both. Our plan addresses the seemingly intractable problem of medical malpractice and restores medical decision making to the most qualified decision makers—clinicians— through a real patients’ bill of rights. I also pledge to you that in a Kerry-Edwards administration, physicians will have a seat at the table. I will appoint physicians and other health care professionals to senior government positions, bringing their experience and expertise to improving government policy and regulation. Physicians are crucial in our nation’s effort to build a stronger America, and in my administration, physicians will always have an open door.