Red Hot Tips Point: Health Insurance Quote Reform Weekly : EasyToInsureME : 8/14/09

Sunday, August 23, 2009

With Congressional lawmakers back in their districts for summer recess, the health reform debate is heating up. The national discussion on reform has shifted away from Washington, as members of Congress convene town hall meetings across the country. Many of these meetings have been filled with loud outbursts, heated debates and hot tempers, largely from opponents of reform proposals. In addition, the partisan messaging battle continues.

Health Reform Activities

President Obama Holds Town Hall Meetings: In Portsmouth, NH, on Tuesday, President Obama sought to reassure the public about health care reform at his first health reform town hall meeting. Compared to other town hall meetings, the crowd of 1,800 was less contentious. Despite the relative calm at the meeting itself, approximately 2,000 demonstrators from both sides of the debate gathered outside the facility. President Obama spent much of the forum debunking misconceptions about reform proposals to those who fear their current coverage will be jeopardized.

President Obama will hold two more town hall meetings within the next week: today in Bozeman, MT, and Saturday in Grand Junction, CO.

Pelosi and Hoyer Criticize Protesters as "Un-American": On Monday, a USA Today editorial co-authored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer denounced ongoing town hall protests as "un-American." President Obama sought to distance himself from these comments.

Hot Tempers Continue at Town Hall Meetings: Because of the growing number of protests, some legislators increased security at meetings this week, while others opted to facilitate meetings via teleconference. In an effort to prepare lawmakers for the protests, House Democrat leaders set up a so-called "War Room" to answer lawmakers' policy questions and help prepare them for potential disruptions. Organizing for America, which earlier served as President Obama's election campaign group, launched a campaign aimed at encouraging supporters of Obama's reform legislation to visit their lawmakers' offices to express support.

President Obama Confronts Health Care "Rumors": White House officials have undertaken aggressive tactics to dispel public misperceptions about reform legislation. During Saturday's weekly radio and Internet address, he confronted the rumors directly. "Let me start by dispelling the outlandish rumors that reform will promote euthanasia, or cut Medicaid, or bring about a government take over of health care," said President Obama. "That's simply not true."

To further grassroots marketing efforts, White House officials on Monday launched "Reality Check," a website that provides information with viral marketing tools, allowing users to share that information on social networking sites.

Opinion Polls

Public Polls Show Division: A July USA TODAY/Gallup Poll indicates that while Americans are divided about health care reform, the divide doesn't appear to be drawn along party lines. According to the poll, Americans appear to disagree about both the primary goal and the urgency of reform legislation. Seniors are the most resistant to reform, and fewer than half of seniors polled want reform enacted this year.

Advertising Activities

New Coalition Sponsors Support Ads in Select States: On Thursday, Americans for Stable Quality Care launched a $12 million television ad campaign in support of President Obama's health reform plan. The new group, which is expected to be the largest spender in support of health reform, is primarily funded by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, with assistance from the American Medical Association, FamiliesUSA, the Federation of American Hospitals, and the Service Employees International Union. The coalition seeks to counter increasingly aggressive protests at town hall meetings while solidifying support from swing senators and Blue Dog Democrats.

Financing the Plans

Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Indicates Cost of Preventive Care Outweighs Savings: The CBO announced Friday that even though public health may improve with expanding preventive medical services - including cancer screenings, cholesterol management, vaccinations and wellness training - the costs of such expansions will offset any savings ultimately generated.

Looking Ahead

The intense national debate is likely to continue throughout the month as President Obama and legislators continue to hold town hall meetings across the country. Lawmakers are slated to return to Washington on September 8.