Health Care Reform: Input for Obama Transition Team (ID #002)

Date: 1/12/2009 to 1/18/2009
Duration: 1 week
Host: ron gross
Topic(s): 8

Overview:

The Obama Transition Team has invited our ideas about Health Care Reform (http://change.gov/page/s/hcdiscussion).

In this conversation we will discuss what each of us perceive to be the biggest problem in the health care system, how we choose our doctors and hospitals, what problems we have had in meeting medical expenses, and what kinds of preventive services Americans should receive – all in the context of how public policy can promote our individual and societal health. Our ideas will be reported to the Transition Team as part of the feedback they are soliciting through the first weeks of January.

Help forge a new frontier of "civic discourse" by responding to this unprecedented expression of openness to dialogue and discussion from a national administration.   Our Conversation here will add a unique dimension to this experiment, as we use Global MindShift to hold our "grass-roots" discussion on the web! 

Topic 1: Welcome

We'll be exploring the issue of health care from several different angles. There are 5 questions we'll be addressing, spending one day of our conversation on each question.

We'll start with introductions. Then go to the drop down menu above (labeled "Topics") and select the current day of the week to join that discussion. If any questions, contact

Please start by introducing yourself to the group--who you are, where you live, what you do. Also share why you are interested in the topic of health care.

Topic 2: Monday: Problems
Day 1: Exploring what we believe are the biggest problems with the health care system.

What do you perceive is the biggest problem in the health care system  -- from your own experience.

Topic 3: Tuesday: Making Choices
Day 2: How we choose quality health-care providers.

How do  you choose your doctors and hospitals?  What are your sources of information?  How should public policy promote quality health care providers?

Topic 4: Wednesday: Paying the Bills
Day 3: The challenge of paying medical bills.

Have you or your family members ever experienced difficulty paying medical bills?  What do you think that policy-makers can do to address this problem?

Topic 5: Thursday: Prevention
Day 4: What kinds of preventive services should Americans receive?

What kind of preventive services should Americans receive?  Have you gotten the prevention you should have?  If not, how can public policy help?

Topic 6: Friday: Life-styles
Day 5: The role of public policy in promoting healthier life-styles.

How can public policy promote healthier life-styles?

Topic 7: Saturday: Other topics
Day 6: Topics to be follow-up-on, or new ones suggested by the participants.

Are there topics we've covered that need more discussion?

What new topics related to health-care would you like to discuss?

Topic 8: Sunday: Report
On Sunday, one of the conversation hosts will summarize our input for the Obama transition team, following a format they have provided. The summary will be posted here for comment...but the window for comments will be small as we need to deliver this report Monday morning.

When the report is posted, please review and make comments as needed.