President-elect Clinton Calls for Major Change, Including National Practice Guidelines
One often-invoked campaign promise presented to the American public was Bill Clinton's affordable, quality health care "within the first 100 days of my presidency." For most consumers and businesses, this is what they wanted to hear.
But how will the chiropractic profession fare under these new reforms. Will we be included, or left out?
A careful examination of the Clinton/Gore plan for health care brings more than a little concern. To begin with, chiropractic is not even eluded to, let alone mentioned.
These are the basic points of their plan:
Cap national spending to control health care costs and create a national health standards' board. The standards' board would be comprised of consumers, providers, business, labor and government, and would "establish an annual budget for the nation to limit both public and private expenditures." Would chiropractic be represented on this national standards' board? Take on the insurance industry: How many dollars of insurance industry campaign contributions put Mr. Clinton in office?
Stop drug price gouging: How many drug company donations were there to Clinton's campaign?
Establish a core benefits package: "Through the health standards' board, guarantee a basic health benefits' package..." This could involve abolishing state mandated benefits. Would this "bare bones" care include chiropractic care?
Develop health networks: Additional statements by President-elect Clinton reveal these to be giant, regionally based managed care organizations. Will chiropractic care be included, or an expensive "add on?"
Guaranteed universal coverage: This includes limiting costs for employers. Will the elimination of chiropractic care fulfill this promise?
These very important issues are vital to the survival of chiropractic. President-elect Clinton's 100 days for health reform must be our rallying point. A well-mobilized, active profession can meet these challenges. We have 100 days from inauguration to realize our future.
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"I've recommended that our doctors be given a set of national practice guidelines..."
