Bill Clinton Urges Changes to Current Health-Care System
REFORM
New Bedford Standard Times
Burcu Karakas
Boston University Washington News Service
October 14, 2009
WASHINGTON—Former President Bill Clinton said Wednesday the nation’s health-care delivery system is no longer sustainable.
Speaking at hte AdvaMed 2009, a conference on medical technology, Clinton said he expected Congress to approve health-care overhaul legislation this year that may not please everybody but that is an economic and health-care “necessity.”
He also said low-income people should have access to medical technology improvements.
Clinton pointed out that some European countries, such as Switzerland and France, devote smaller percentages of their gross domestic product to health care than the United States does. Challenging the argument that the country is already spending too much on health care, he said America should spend less.
Amy Hall, director of the federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ legislative office, said, “the status quo in America is unacceptable.” She said the Obama administration is trying to bring stability and security to those who don’t have health insurance or affordable coverage.
James C. Capretta, a fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, pointing to possible tax increases as part of health-care legislation, said, “This is not a pain-free exercise.”
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