By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    How Not to Become a Victim of Medical Scams
    How Not to Become a Victim of Medical Scams
    December 22, 2021
    11 Ways You Can Care for Your Elder Family Members Health
    11 Ways You Can Care for Your Elder Family Members Health
    April 6, 2022
    How Can Brain Injury Lead To Dangerous Long-Term Effects?
    How Can Brain Injury Lead To Dangerous Long-Term Effects?
    August 30, 2022
    Latest News
    6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
    September 10, 2025
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Why are Girls Being Abandoned and Battered ?
    August 20, 2012
    biopharma beat innovation and imagination
    BioPharma Beat: Imagination Is More Important Than Innovation
    August 5, 2014
    HIPAA Compliance Breaches Higher Than Ever: What Are You Doing About It?
    April 26, 2016
    Latest News
    Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
    September 9, 2025
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Debating Healthcare
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Debating Healthcare
Policy & Law

Debating Healthcare

KennethThorpe
KennethThorpe
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE



Last week ushered in the heart of campaign season with the first of three presidential debates held in Denver, CO. Healthcare, understandably, featured heavily in the proceedings, making its first appearance a mere six minutes into the 90 minute exchange of ideas and issue positions between Republican nominee Mitt Romney and Democratic incumbent Barack Obama. The debate identified some stark difference between the two candidates, but, as PFCD Chairman Ken Thorpe pointed out to CNN in his post-debate commentary, “It was about as substantive a debate as I think we’ve ever seen. The problem is, even after this debate, I don’t think people truly understand the similarities and the differences in what these candidates are proposing for health care.”

 

More Read

Coordinating Care by Reporting What Didn’t Happen
Top 10 Medical Sales Items That are Saving Lives
Obama’s Deficit Plan Counters Ryan’s Doctrines
Radiation Dose Monitoring Trends in the U.S. and Abroad [VIDEO]
Lung Cancer Part 2 – Early Diagnosis

To underscore Dr. Thorpe’s observation, there were several issues discussed that muddied the waters for viewers simply because of their complexity and nuance including: 1) who, exactly is responsible for the rising cost of insurance, 2) the continued need for stemming systemic fraud and abuse in both the Medicare and Medicaid systems, 3) the impact of sending Medicaid back to the states exclusively and 4) how much funding, exactly, has been cut from Medicare as a result of the President’s Affordable Care Act legislation. These issues will no doubt remain confusing given their complexity, yet all have long-term ramifications on the one issue the candidates could agree on, the need to do more to control costs in the healthcare system. Controlling costs is an issue on which PFCD works effortlessly toward a solution through education on the importance of preventing chronic disease, encouraging health and wellness and highlighting the strides we make nationwide toward a more communicative, collaborative approach to treating patients.

Holding the idea of collaborative systems up against, for example, Medicare in its current form, Dr. Thorpe articulated the benefits of moving toward a more coordinated network: “If you take the typical patient who is chronically ill, they will be overweight or obese, they suffer from bad cholesterol, hypertension, asthma and diabetes – that means they take 10 to 15 medications and there is no team-based care. Going to separate doctors with their own plans is expensive. These integrated group plans work well and the ongoing preventive care they provide – working with doctors, nutritionists, nurses, nurse practitioners and the rest – ultimately save on costs.”

While this issue is much larger that any one debate can allow for meaningful discourse, we encourage both candidates to continue examining any and all options that would emphasize a collective focus on investing in and promoting ways to both better tackle the incidence of chronic disease and reduce health care spending.
 

TAGGED:politics
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

Visitors From Another Planet

August 21, 2012

Health Insurers’ Rate Increases Being More Scrutinized

May 22, 2011

Are We Picking on VA Hospitals Too Much?

June 8, 2014

Rite Aid Stores Hosts RV Tour For a Free Skin Cancer Screen

March 23, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?