In early April of 2006, then Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney signed the most influential bill of his political career. The law required that all citizens of Massachusetts have health insurance. Shortly after he announced his candidacy for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, healthcare reform was the first issue on his platform. Whether or not that issue will damage his campaign is debatable.
We asked our Healthcare Finance News followers on Facebook what the most concerning issue surrounding healthcare should be for 2012 presidential hopefuls. Fifty-four percent of voters deemed Medicare as the most pressing issue, outweighing reforming 'Obamacare' and health IT-related matters such as EHR implementation or ICD-10.
After Romney made an appearance in South Carolina last week, he fielded questions from reporters and was urged by many to take a stance on whether he supports the Medicare plan in the budget drafted by House Chairman Paul Ryan and previously approved by the House. Romney said he will roll out his own plans on the topic at a later date.
"The Ryan plan and my plan are on the same page," Romney said. "We have the same objectives. My plan is different than his. It's not identical."
According to polls after the first GOP presidential primary debate on June 13, the former governor is the party's leading candidate. Nevertheless, 'Obamneycare' does not sit so well with Conservatives in the Republican party. In addition, it was on this week's Fox News Sunday that another running mate GOP presidential candidate, Tim Pawlenty, criticized both Romney and Obama for continuing to push the law.
"The president's own words is that he patterned in large measure 'Obamacare' after what happened in Massachusetts," Pawlenty said. "What I don't understand is why they both continue to defend it."
With drama ensuing after this comment, we ventured more closely into the health IT social media world, seeing what some of our Twitter followers had to say when it came to 'Obamneycare' and Medicare. Should we be worried?
One follower, @ownersmag, said he couldn't get used to the 'flip-flopping' of Romney's decisions. "If my social security age is raised and Medicare cut, then why should I pay tax for the 30 yrs?"
@DavidOAtkins paid close attention to the first debate Monday night, offering his own advice. "Romney thinks the American people want massive cuts to Medicare and Social Security. Does he talk to the actual Americans? #CNNDebate."
The overall picture our social media friends are seeing is that we just don't know. Whether it is anger, frustration or confusion, the wheel of emotions is frantically turning.
Here are a few more comments on the 'Obamneycare'/Medicare debacle:
@iabadra: "Romney: Passing on debt to our kids is immoral! And what about all the cuts in education? & cutting taxes of Corps? & Medicare? Rrggghh."
@wolfeie469: "#CNNDebate Romney said Obama cut Medicare. How, specifically? Doesn't cutting out insurance cos. Help Medicare, not hurt?"
@foxdavebriggs: "I think #Romeny [sic] had a solid answer to #Pawlenty 'ObamneyCare' criticism citing states, Medicare, cost difference & grant waivers... you?
@TogterFists88 "Romney said that he would sign the Ryan Republican plan that would end the Medicare seniors rely on."
As of this week, Romney assured Conservatives that he would sign Paul Ryan's Medicare voucher plan, but with retouches. With that said, I think it's safe to assume that the American people have really not decided where the GOP nomination is going to take us in the coming year, especially when it comes to Medicare and healthcare reform. It would be a mistake to read too much into this week's first primary debate.