HCMS Compares the 2008 Presidential Candidates’ Healthcare Plans
The Board of Medical Legislation of the Harris County Medical Society developed the following tables to provide information about the health care plans of the major 2008 presidential contenders in a concise and comparable format. These tables are not meant to provide a comprehensive review of the candidates' plans for health care. Rather, they are designed to provide a broad overview and spark interest for further inquiry.
In developing these tables, the Board of Medical Legislation strove to use the candidate's own descriptions and to avoid any editorializing. This is not an endorsement of any candidate or position.
Below are some questions the reader might want to keep in mind while examining this and other materials provided at the end.
2008 Presidential Candidates Comparison Charts and resource information
Questions for consideration:
-
Regardless of stated intent, will the plan lead to a single payer, government run health care system?
-
How will physicians' income be affected by this plan?
-
How will access to care be affected?
-
Will this plan increase or decrease the overall quality of care for average Americans?
-
What are the hidden costs of the plan?
-
What role would specialty hospitals/physician-owned facilities play in this plan?
-
How will current medical liability laws affect the success of this plan?
-
Will funding for medical schools and medical research be increased with this plan?
-
How well is mental health addressed by this plan?
-
Who are the candidate's health policy advisors? Do they include physicians? Does the candidate have any close relatives in the medical field?