Industry Groups Ask Obama To Listen

Health and retirement benefits trade organizations say President-elect Obama should think about what they have to say when he is developing policy proposals that affect their members.

Health groups issuing statements include America’s Health Insurance Plans, Washington, and the Association of Health Insurance Advisors, Falls Church, Va.

Individual health carriers and the American Benefits Council, Washington, also have come out with statements.

AHIP President Karen Ignagni put out a short message congratulating Obama on his victory.

“Now is the time for health care reform,” Ignagni says.

H. Edward Hanway, chairman of CIGNA Corp., Philadelphia, contends that neither the private sector nor government can expand access to health coverage and lower the cost of care alone.

“A public and private partnership of health care stakeholders–private health plans, federal and state governments, employers, providers and individuals–is critical to expanding access, providing choice and controlling costs,” Hanway says.

“The ideal plan is one that is best able to offer affordable, quality health care for all–universal coverage–while preserving the individual’s right of choice along the way,” Hanway says.

WellPoint Inc., Indianapolis, says the Obama administration should focus on “improving health care quality, controlling health spending and building on the current private-public system.”

“This can be achieved through an increased focus on the development of consensus-based quality measures and expanded use of quality-based payments; enhanced efforts to promote an advanced medical home model for the delivery of care; continued efforts to provide coordinated care and disease management; and expanding viable public and private coverage options and access,” WellPoint says.