Summary
President Obama kicked off his healthcare reform campaign at the White House yesterday with 150 industry leaders and stakeholders, including an assortment of so-called "ordinary people". The President left no doubt that it is his highest priority to sign healthcare reform legislation this year. Those leading the charge in Congress (Senators Baucus, Grassley, Kennedy and Representatives Waxman and Rangel) have promised a bill by this Summer.
Analysis
What is different now than 16 years ago which bodes well for the success of this campaign to reform the healthcare system includes:
1. The process is much more open and involves all stakeholders from the start on both sides of the political aisle;
2. Congress, rather than the Administration behind closed doors, will be writing the legislation;
3. There is much more widespread support among former industry leaders who lobbied against "HillaryCare" (viz. the health insurers, the AMA, business groups, etc.);
4. There was a lot of work on a bill even before the President took office making it more likely that there will be legislation in time for active debate and passage this year; and
5. There will be a strong emotional push to get legislation passed while Senator Kennedy is still around to enjoy the fruits of almost a half century campaign of his to reform the healthcare system.
Companies poised to benefit from healthcare reform, especially the moves to finance it through the cost savings anticipated from more prevalent electronic records and apply the results of comparative clinical effectiveness research to reimbursement models, include:
1. General Electric;
2. Siemens;
3. McKesson;
4. Premier, Inc.
5. Allscripts;
6. IBM;
7. Accenture;
8. Eclipsys;
9. Cerner; and
10. Quality Systems, Inc.
