Obama Pressures Health Care Industry To Follow Through

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

(AP)

In an effort to get in the good graces of politicians responsible for health care reform, the health care industry yesterday promised it can significantly curb the growth of health care costs.

There is nothing, however, to hold the industry to its promise--a fact not lost on the White House.

So today, President Obama sent a letter (click here to view the letter) to the industry groups who committed to reducing the growth of costs, putting some personal pressure on the organizations to follow through on their word. The letter asks the organizations to update the administration by early June on the progress they have made toward fulfilling their commitment.

"As I said yesterday, health care reform will require all of us working together-- from drug insurance companies to labor unions and business executives, from doctors to hospitals and members of Congress," Mr. Obama said in the letter. "Getting spiraling health care costs under control is essential to providing all Americans with affordable, quality care, making our businesses more competitive, and closing our budget deficits -- so I will hold you to your pledge to get this done."

The letter was sent to the leaders of America's Health Insurance Plans, the Advanced Medical Technology Association, the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, the Service Employees International Union, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Those groups on Monday suggested it could find ways to reduce the pace at which health care costs are growing and save the country more than $2 trillion over 10 years. Questions remain over how much those savings could help achieve universal coverage.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by mattcat25 May 13, 2009 1:27 PM EDT: The next Tea bagParties (4 july) can't come soon enough!
We are all going to be strapped with the cost of elective surgury any time some Republican wants a sex change! Even if they just arrived from Mexico--illegaly!
It's about making more problems and more cost-- not less! Never vote for a community organizer!
Posted by globalcoolin at 8:36 AM : May 13, 2009

I say pull the plug on Richard Cheney...; Reply to this comment


by sjc_1 May 13, 2009 12:51 PM EDT: It is like Bob Dole said back in 1993 "don't mess with 1/8th of the economy". He was referring to 1/8th of the economy going to pay for health care, which should give anyone pause. It has now become 1/6th of our economy in only 15 short years. Give it another 15 years and it could be 1/4th of our economy. Who will be able to pay for it then?; Reply to this comment


by globalcoolin May 13, 2009 11:36 AM EDT: This is Great Society II and the first one was useless. And costly.
Great Society II should get it's own name! Wrecking Ball From Hell!
The next Tea Parties (4 july) can't come soon enough!
We are all going to be strapped with the cost of elective surgury any time some fruit wants a sex change! Even if they just arrived from Mexico--illegaly!
It's about making more problems and more cost-- not less! Never vote for a community organizer!; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 May 13, 2009 10:36 AM EDT: Healthcare and Medical Administration should be managed by Scientists and not Profiteers.

The Free (to manipulate) Market has failed the American People.; Reply to this comment


by JEngdahlJ May 12, 2009 7:51 PM EDT: Fascinating to see insurers, physicians, hospitals, and pharma joining President Obama in a common promise to annually reduce the healthcare cost trend by 1.5%. It's a good, though ambitious, start. How ambitious? Milliman, Inc. releases an annual assessment of healthcare costs and trends, with the 2009 version due out next Monday; last year, the cost trend rose by 7.6%. We've got a long ways to go to neutralize the upward cost trend, let alone get it moving in a downward direction. More info at www.healthcaretownhall.com/?p=692; Reply to this comment


by dfnj2009 May 12, 2009 6:43 PM EDT: Support free market and choice: Let ALL Americans have access to buy Medicaid policies!!!

Don't worry, as soon as the Chinese Yuan is allowed to float against the dollar ALL our CEO jobs will be outsourced!; Reply to this comment


by FactsNotIdeology May 12, 2009 6:32 PM EDT: President Obama should put a stop to the health care shenanigans, omitting single payer advocates from the dialogue for example. The majority of Americans want a single payer system. Why would the president allow advocates of the one plan that people want to silenced? Impotence? Ignorance? Politics? Hey, how about some change we can believe in?; Reply to this comment


by mike020202 May 12, 2009 6:22 PM EDT: THERE CAN ONLY BE
ONE.....................................

Single payer system; Reply to this comment