John Edwards Addresses Health Policy Grand Rounds
November 13, 2007
Speaking at Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Health Policy Grand Rounds on Tuesday, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards called for a dramatic increase in health care spending that would guarantee universal coverage, provide paid family leave, and extend unpaid leave to more than 13 million Americans. Edwards' new family leave proposal was officially unveiled earlier in the day. It includes a provision to offer at least eight weeks of paid family and medical leave designed to help American workers balance their jobs and their families. This would require an additional $2 billion in spending — an amount that is double what has been proposed by Senator Hilary Clinton and half a billion dollars more than the plan proposed by Illinois Senator Barack Obama. To pay for the increased spending for both family leave and universal health care, Edwards said new revenue would come from a rollback in the tax cuts signed into law by President Bush on Americans making over $200,000 annually. Edwards also called for a repeal of the current social security tax cap of $97,000 to provide additional funding for Social Security and to ensure its long-term stability. "The broken system in Washington has forgotten America's families for too long," said Edwards. "In the past generation, an unprecedented number of women have taken jobs outside the home. But, while two-thirds of mothers are now working, it has never been harder for American workers to balance the needs of their jobs and their families."
Edwards was the first presidential candidate to unveil a universal health care plan. His plan would require businesses and other employers to either cover their employees or help finance their health insurance. He would also call for the creation of new tax credits, the expansion of Medicaid and SCHIP, reforming insurance laws, and finding innovative ways to contain health care costs. Another key component of the Edwards plan would be the creation of regional "Health Care Markets" in an effort to increase choices among insurance plans, and cut costs for businesses offering insurance. Once these steps have been taken, Edwards' plan would then require all American residents to get insurance. "We have to stop using words like 'access to health care' when we know with certainty those words mean something less than universal care," Edwards said. "We need a truly universal solution, and we need it now." Health Policy Grand Rounds is modeled after DHMC's Clinical Grand Rounds to offer an educational forum for DHMC physicians and staff. It also provides the candidates with an opportunity to discuss various aspects of their health care policies, and receive feedback from a group of individuals on the front lines of health care delivery in America.
Lebanon, NH --
Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards shares his views on health care policy at Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Health Policy Grand Rounds.
John Edwards at DHMC Click the 
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