Political Quotes

“it is a fascinating article, and I had the opportunity to meet here in Washington with the principal author on this particular study, Dr. Emmett Keeler. We had a chance to talk about the study. I do think Members on both sides of the aisle should read it. In the conclusions, in the abstract, it goes on, but the last sentence basically says: Depending on the size of the catastrophic limit, waste from the excessive use of generously insured care could be reduced, and MSAs would be attractive to both sick and healthy people. I just quote from the conclusions. I do encourage my colleagues to read this study. The cost issue talked about is a great model. It is developed from a policy standpoint projecting ahead. I think that is terribly important to do. I do think we need to come back and say, fundamentally, that we are not going to be able to answer whether it is going to cost a little bit more or a little bit less with the data that is out there today. Therefore, I would like to turn to what nobody talks about--the policy people do not talk about, the think tanks do not talk about. I have not heard it yet in the debate over the last 18 months on this Senate floor. I have not heard it among the think tanks in Washington. I have not heard it talked about among the economists. And that is the perspective of where health care is delivered, and that is at the physician-patient level. It simply has not been talked about yet.”