// BEGIN editorial data var i = 0; var BushVKerryHealthCare = new Array(); BushVKerryHealthCare.ID = "BushVKerryHealthCare"; BushVKerryHealthCare.ID_WB = 5625405; BushVKerryHealthCare.sPubDate = "8/6/2004 9:58:03 PM GMT"; BushVKerryHealthCare.mainsectionID = "" BushVKerryHealthCare.navsectionID = "undefined" BushVKerryHealthCare.appFmt = 2; BushVKerryHealthCare.itemsPerPage = "6,9"; BushVKerryHealthCare.appWidth = 300; BushVKerryHealthCare.appHeader = "Fact File|Bush and Kerry on health"; BushVKerryHealthCare.appNavStyle = 3; BushVKerryHealthCare.nLinkCols = 2; BushVKerryHealthCare.appLayout = 1; BushVKerryHealthCare.copyHeight = 200; BushVKerryHealthCare.copyMargin = 5; BushVKerryHealthCare[i++] = new Array("","BUSH","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); BushVKerryHealthCare[i++] = new Array("","Medicare","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); BushVKerryHealthCare[i-1].body = "
Signed legislation to take effect in 2006 to make prescription drug coverage available to more seniors and disabled through Medicare, created a voluntary Medicare drug benefit for seniors to reduce out-of-pocket drug spending, as well as allowing for prescription drug discount cards with monthly premiums."; BushVKerryHealthCare[i++] = new Array("","Malpractice premiums","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); BushVKerryHealthCare[i-1].body = "
Adopt minimum standards in the medical liability system.

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Allow individuals and small businesses to put money in Health Savings Accounts to cover out-of-pocket expenses until coverage kicks in at a higher deductible to help moderate premiums, expand reach of community health centers by funding 1,200 new or expanded sites over five years, help states develop new approaches to expand coverage and avoid reductions in Medicaid programs, provide a health coverage tax credit to certain displaced workers.

"; BushVKerryHealthCare[i++] = new Array("","Efficiency","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); BushVKerryHealthCare[i-1].body = "
Use technology to reduce preventable medical errors and reduce costs, double funding to achieve broader adoption of health IT systems to $100 million under FY’05 budget, allow most Americans to have personal electronic records within the next 10 years.

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Visit [web site.]

"; BushVKerryHealthCare[i++] = new Array("","KERRY","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); BushVKerryHealthCare[i-1].body = " "; BushVKerryHealthCare[i++] = new Array("","Medicare","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); BushVKerryHealthCare[i-1].body = "
Create a prescription drug benefit that is run by Medicare instead of private insurance companies."; BushVKerryHealthCare[i++] = new Array("","Prescription drugs","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); BushVKerryHealthCare[i-1].body = "
Require Secretary of heath and Human Services to negotiate better prices, allow importation of FDA-approved drugs from Canada and other countries to take advantages of discounts, require businesses that work with the federal government to reveal profits from the drug industry, help states to provide discounts by granting incentives for more efficient contracting in order to get better drug rates.


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Ensure that nursing homes have adequate inspection and better worker training, give seniors more flexibility to use their coverage for alternative care options so more could continue to live at home, provide more support for caregivers."; BushVKerryHealthCare[i++] = new Array("","Coverage","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); BushVKerryHealthCare[i-1].body = "
Extend state-based programs in order to pick up the full cost of covering 20 million children enrolled in Medicaid, as well as expanding coverage for families up to 200 percent of poverty and childless adults up to 100 percent of poverty, cut premiums by up to $1000 per year for families by stepping in on certain high-cost cases."; BushVKerryHealthCare[i++] = new Array("","Malpractice premiums","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); BushVKerryHealthCare[i-1].body = "
Require qualified specialist to certify merits of a case before it can move forward, work with states to make non-binding mediation available in all cases before trial, punishing lawyers who file frivolous cases with sanctions, oppose punitive damages unless intentional misconduct, gross negligence or reckless indifference is established, prevent insurance companies from fixing prices and increasing premiums.


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Access to specialists, emergency protections, appeals process for HMO decisions, ability to sue HMOs, whistleblower protections for health workers."; BushVKerryHealthCare[i++] = new Array("","Efficiency","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); BushVKerryHealthCare[i-1].body = "
Ensure privacy for medical records, provide technology bonuses to health providers to streamline paperwork, require that private insurers use systems that make transactions less costly as a condition for doing business with the federal government."; BushVKerryHealthCare[i++] = new Array("","Further information","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); BushVKerryHealthCare[i-1].body = "
Visit [web site.]
"; // END editorial data