For the first time in modern history, there is truly a consensus building around universal coverage in this country. As a case in point, at a May 11 meeting, President Obama met with a healthcare coalition comprised of every element of the industry: union members, insurance companies, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, doctors and hospitals. They all agreed that healthcare spending is on a course that cannot continue and voluntarily conceded to rein in healthcare costs.
In a letter to the president, they committed to “decreasing by 1.5 percentage points the annual healthcare spending growth rate, saving $2 trillion or more” by “improving coordination, focusing on efficiency and embracing better technology and regulatory reform." It is believed that by cutting out the $2 trillion now, we’ll be able to extend health coverage to the 46 million uninsured in this country later.
To get all parties to agree like this is an astonishing accomplishment. Of course, a skeptic might wonder whether each party, each of whom has a huge stake in the outcome of reform, might suggest in the future that, yes, we are spending too much on healthcare - but it’s not me, it’s the other guy.
Following the meeting, CNN’s Elizabeth Cohen discussed the plan to reduce healthcare costs by $2 trillion over the next 10 years. When asked why, if healthcare reform were so easy to do, it hadn't yet been done, Cohen responded with 'people are making money in today's healthcare system,' - and to tell them, 'We want you to cut costs,' they might not like that so much."
Let's be realistic: Those who are making money in healthcare are not likely to give up profit solely for the good of the nation. However, President Obama has a veto-proof Congress to put reform into motion. The resulting healthcare system and the Obama administration’s influence over that new system are driving this seemingly cooperative behavior. There’s a lot at stake for each of these groups. It is necessary for them to play nice now to ensure they’re not knocked out of the game altogether. As Cohen said, "The message [to them] now is, 'In the future, things are going to be different; we might come up with a government healthcare insurance program - so start saving money now because you may not have a job later.'"