Political Quotes

“for decades, healthcare analysts and industry experts have wondered whether healthcare should consume 16 percent of our Nation's economic output, as it currently does. By virtually any measure, we spend more on healthcare than any other country in the world. Consider the facts. According to the World Health Organization; we spend twice as much per person on healthcare as Britain and Japan; and we spend nearly 30 percent more than second-ranking Monaco. In the past 5 years alone, the cost of health insurance to companies has nearly doubled--from $4,200 to $8,100 per family. But experts also concur that rising healthcare costs does not mean the quality of healthcare is improving. Just this summer, the Institute of Medicine released the most extensive report ever on medication errors. The results? At least 1.5 million Americans are sickened, injured, or killed each year by errors in prescribing, dispensing, and taking medications. Errors are widespread--on average, a hospital patient is subjected to 1 error each day he or she occupies a hospital bed--and they are costly, at an estimated expense of $3.5 billion per year. We have good reason to question the cost and quality of our healthcare services. That is why, in August, President Bush issued an executive order requiring all Federal agencies with a health insurance program to increase price transparency and provide options promoting quality and efficiency of care.…”