[Ip-health] Obama and McCain support wider dev't/use of generics plus reimportation

[Sarah Rimmington]

[snip] Both candidates support a plan to re-import drugs -- meaning U.S.
providers could buy them from countries that have negotiated lower
prices with pharmaceutical companies. Both also support the wider
development and use of generic drugs. [snip]

FACTBOX: When it comes to health care, McCain/Obama agree
Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:51pm EDT
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed7/idUSN1531996020080715?pageN=
umber=3D2&virtualBrandChannel=3D10179

(Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and
Republican candidate John McCain agree that Americans spend too much on
drugs and doctors and largely agree on what changes to make, but they
have competing proposals for how to do so. Here is a summary of their
positions:

BUYING HEALTH INSURANCE

McCain would end tax breaks for employer-provided health insurance and
provide a refundable tax credit of $2,500 per person, or $5,000 for
families. He would promote competition by allowing people to buy
insurance across state lines.

Obama has proposed a national insurance program to allow individuals and
small businesses to buy health care similar to that available to federal
employees, supplemented in part by a tax on employers who do not provide
coverage.

Both want insurance to be portable, meaning people would not lose
coverage when they switch jobs.

THE UNINSURED

McCain proposes a Guaranteed Access Plan or GAP provided by states. One
example would be a nonprofit corporation that would contract with insurers.

Obama would create a National Health Insurance Exchange to help people
buy private insurance, act as a watchdog and create standards. He would
require health care for all children, and expand Medicaid and the State
Children's Health Insurance Program or SCHIP.

IMPROVING CARE

Both candidates support electronic health records to improve
record-keeping and reducing errors. Obama would launch a federally
backed system.

Both also support better coordination of care. Obama health adviser
supports the idea of a "medical home" -- a primary care doctor who would
help coordinate and oversee care.

Both candidates praise smoking cessation and weight loss programs,
especially those offered by employers.

Obama has studied the possibility of paying doctors to spend time with
patients on preventing disease and rewarding them for better outcomes.

LOWERING COSTS

McCain wants to slow the double-digit growth that now makes health care
spending 16 percent of U.S. Gross Domestic Product.

Obama says he can reduce health care spending by 8 percent and save each
taxpayer $2,500 with his ideas.

Both candidates support a plan to re-import drugs -- meaning U.S.
providers could buy them from countries that have negotiated lower
prices with pharmaceutical companies. Both also support the wider
development and use of generic drugs.

To lower costs for doctors, McCain proposes tort reform reducing the
number of lawsuits that doctors must insure against. Obama prefers to
strengthen antitrust laws to lower insurance costs for doctors.

Both also encourage walk-in clinics at stores and elsewhere for routine
health checks.

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--
Sarah Rimmington
Attorney
Essential Action, Access to Medicines Project
Washington, DC
Tel: (202) 387-8030
Cell: (202) 422-2687
www.essentialaction.org/access/