Press Release: GOP Debate Is Lost Opportunity to Discuss Health Care
Health Care and Leading Cause of Death-Chronic Disease-Overlooked
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 16, 2007) - Health care was not on the agenda of questioners or candidates in last night's GOP presidential debate. Despite consistently ranking as a top-three issue for voters in public opinion polls, Americans did not have a chance to hear from those seeking the presidency about their plans to help their fellow citizens lead healthier lives. In response, today the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease issued the following statement:
"An opportunity was missed last night to address the leading cause of death in the United States-chronic disease. Our nation spends $2 trillion on health care every year, yet the topic wasn't discussed during last night's debate. For far too long we have misunderstood the important role that preventive health care, exercise and diet can play in helping us live longer, better lives and reduce spiraling health care costs. Transforming our ‘sick care' system into a health care system that lives up to its name requires us to change our country's mindset about what it means to be healthy and we hope that we find that leadership in those who seek to lead our country."
The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is a national coalition of patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs in the U.S.: chronic disease.
The PFCD's mission is to:
- Challenge policymakers - in particular, the 2008 presidential candidates - to make the issue of chronic disease a top priority and articulate how they will address the issue through their health care proposals
- Educate the public about chronic disease and potential solutions for individuals, communities, and the nation
- Mobilize Americans to call for change in how policymakers, governments, employers, health institutions, and other entities approach chronic disease
Leaders in the effort represent more than 50 leading organizations from across health care, business and labor.
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