U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue on Tuesday "expressed skepticism" about health care plans proposed by leading Democrats but also "didn't warmly embrace" presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain's (Ariz.) plan while speaking at a reporters' roundtable, CQ HealthBeat reports.

Donohue defended employer-based health care, saying that "if you've got 177 million people covered today, I wouldn't give that away too soon." McCain's proposal would give tax breaks to U.S. residents regardless of whether they obtain coverage through an employer or though the nongroup market.

Donohue and other business leaders agreed that health care is a top priority for their members. However, he said the focus of health care reform should not necessarily be on all the uninsured because many of the uninsured can afford coverage or are eligible for government programs -- such as Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP -- but are not enrolled. Donohue also said he would consider government mandates for individuals and mid- to large-size employers but said the role of government in such a system needs to be examined.

According to CQ HealthBeat, Donohue "sharply criticized the idea of a big government-run system." Donohue asked, "Ever get your license renewed?" adding, "I'm not sure that's the kind of health care we want." According to Donohue, Canada's government-run universal coverage system is built on the premise that "if you're sick, go to the United States for care" (CQ HealthBeat, 6/17).

'Checklist for Change'
Ten female Democratic senators on Thursday unveiled a "checklist for change" that addressed making health care more affordable, creating universal health care and other issues, The Hill reports. According to The Hill, the checklist is an attempt by the senators to ensure that women who previously supported former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) do not vote for McCain. According to The Hill, "Democrats are concerned that women who believe that Clinton was the victim of sexism during the primaries might vote for McCain, who is courting that voting bloc heavily." The Hill reports that the checklist did not include abortion-rights issues, but Democrats later said that abortion rights were included in the universal health care issue.

Group leader Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) said Clinton supports the checklist, adding, "This is a way to show that whether you were for Hillary or whether you were for [presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.)], that we've come together on this checklist for change. It's all part of the momentum." According to The Hill, the 10 senators plan to reiterate the checklist on the Senate floor, at campaign rallies and at the Democratic National Convention (Raju, The Hill, 6/17).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

© 2008 MediLexicon International Ltd