Health care legislation might not top next administration's agenda, former house leader says

Legislation that would overhaul the U.S. health care system might take a back seat to other issues for the next administration, former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.) said Thursday at a health care policy forum, CQ HealthBeat reports. The forum was sponsored by the Partnership to Fight Chronic Diseases and Emory University's Institute for Advanced Policy Solutions.

Gephardt said health care could be secondary behind issues and growing concerns over the nation's economy, the environment and the ongoing war in Iraq. Referring to health care, he said, "I'm not sure that the next president and the next Congress is going to take up this issue first." According to CQ HealthBeat, Gephardt emphasized the need for bipartisan efforts while putting together intricate health care legislation.

Former House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.) said at the forum that the president might propose principles rather than detailed legislation for health reform. Johnson said, "It's very important that the president not develop his own proposal."

Chronic Disease Prevention

Meanwhile, panelists at the forum also addressed the need to focus on chronic disease prevention as a way to improve the U.S. health care system, CQ HealthBeat reports. About seven of 10 deaths in the U.S. have been attributed to chronic diseases, including hypertension, depression, cardiac ailments and asthma, according to PFCD. In addition, about 75 cents of every dollar spent on health care is on chronic diseases, which results in $1 trillion annually in lost productivity in the U.S., according to PFCD.

In related news, PFCD on Thursday issued a report highlighting efforts by businesses to address the problem of chronic diseases, including intervention programs for employees. According to CQ HealthBeat, the report counters findings from a report by the Center for Studying Health System Change issued Wednesday. The HSC report found that corporate health care initiatives such as weight management programs and health fairs remain popular but have not shown any benefits (Wyckoff, CQ HealthBeat, 6/5).

The HSC report is available online.