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Health Care Reforms: Better Care, At Lower Cost, for Every American
John McCain proposes a number of initiatives that can lower health care costs. If we act today, we can
lower health care costs for families through common-sense initiatives. Within a decade, health spending
will comprise twenty percent of our economy. This is taking an increasing toll on America's families and
small businesses.
Cheaper Drugs: John McCain will look to bring greater affordability and competition to our drug markets
through safe re-importation of drugs and faster introduction of generic drugs.
Chronic Disease: Chronic conditions account for three-quarters of the nation's annual health care bill. By
emphasizing prevention, early intervention, healthy habits, new treatment models, new public health
infrastructure and the use of information technology, we can significantly reduce these costs. We should
dedicate more federal research to treating and curing chronic disease.
Coordinated Care: Coordinated care - with providers collaborating to produce the best health care for the
patient - offers better outcomes at lower cost. We should pay a single bill for high-quality care which will
make every single provider accountable and responsive to the patients' needs.
Greater Access And Convenience: Families place a high value on quickly getting simple care.
Government should promote greater access through walk-in clinics in retail outlets.
Information Technology: John McCain will promote the rapid deployment of 21st century information
systems and technology to improve patient safety, enhance quality and lower costs.
Medicaid And Medicare: John McCain will reform the payment systems in Medicaid and Medicare to
compensate providers for diagnosis, prevention and care coordination. Medicaid and Medicare should not
pay for preventable medical errors or mismanagement. We also need to implement a zero tolerance
policy towards Medicare and Medicaid fraud that is increasingly stripping away resources from the sick
and the elderly.
Smoking: John McCain will promote the availability of smoking cessation programs. Most smokers would
love to quit but find it hard to do so. Working with businesses and insurance companies to promote
availability, we can improve lives and reduce associated chronic diseases through smoking cessation
programs.
Tort Reform: John McCain will lead the fight for medical liability reform that eliminates lawsuits directed at
doctors who follow clinical guidelines and adhere to proven safety protocols. Every patient should have
access to legal remedies in cases of bad medical practice but that should not be an open invitation to
endless, frivolous lawsuits that drive up health care costs for everyone and make the practice of medicine
unaffordable for good doctors everywhere.
Transparency: John McCain believes we must make information on treatment options and doctor records
more public, and require greater transparency regarding medical outcomes, quality of care, costs and
prices. We must also facilitate the development of national standards for measuring and evaluating
treatments and outcomes.
Health Care Costs: John McCain will reform health care making it easier for individuals and families to
obtain insurance. Americans are working harder and longer, yet the amount workers take home in their
paychecks is not keeping pace because of rising health care costs. An important part of his plan is to use
competition to improve the quality of health insurance with greater variety to match people's needs, lower
prices, and promote portability. Families should be able to purchase health insurance nationwide, across
state lines.
Making the Tax Subsidy Fair: By making the tax code more equitable and transparent, John McCain will
give every family a refundable tax credit - cash towards insurance - of $5,000 (Individuals receive
$2,500). Every family in America, regardless of the source of their insurance or how much they make will
get the same help. Families will be able to stay with their current plan, or choose the insurance provider
that suits them best and have the money sent directly to the insurance provider.
Making Insurance More Portable: Americans need insurance that follows them from job to job. Too many
job decisions today are controlled by a fear of losing health care. Americans want insurance that is still
there if they retire early and does not change if they take a few years off to raise the children. John
McCain will lead the reform for portable insurance.
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