Clinton Presents Plan For Health Care Access

President Clinton presented the initial draft of his long-awaited health care plan to the nation last night, outlining its major goals and challenging Congress and the nation to revamp America's "badly broken" system.

In Cambridge, city residents gathered at City Hall to watch the speech. At the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard students listened together to the details of the presentation.

The President, who addressed the nation on national television, delivered the entire presentation himself. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was the head of the task force that assembled the plan, was greeted with a standing ovation and was acknowledged by her husband, but she did not speak on the subject last night.

Clinton promised that the new system would provide quality health care coverage for every American in the most simple, cost-effective manner possible. To illustrate this principle of comprehensive coverage, he held before the audience a sample of the health care security card which every American would possess to guarantee care.

Clinton also emphasized the low cost of the proposal. "The vast majority of Americans," he said, "will pay the same or less for coverage which is the same or better."

The president assured citizens that they will retain the right to choose their own doctors and the right to quality care.

The success of the plan in future months depends largely on the support and cooperation of Congress and of leading government officials. Clinton addressed this necessity by explicitly requesting both Congress and the nation to make small sacrifices for long-term gain and the future of America's health care system.

Dr. David Blumenthal '70, chief of the Health Policy Research and Development Unit at the Massachusetts General Hospital, commended the president for this approach. "I was very impressed with the way he used political rhetoric, in effect challenging [Congress]," Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal, who commented on the speech in a telephone interview last night, said that he was surprised at how "politically adept and well-constructed" the plan was. "Politically, he hits almost all the right notes," Blumenthal said.

He explained that Clinton included elements of the plan which wouldplease a wide spectrum of voters--long-term carefor the elderly, research funding, a benefitpackage and mental health coverage.

As politicians and analysts in Washingtondebated about the presentation and content of thespeech, students gathered at the Kennedy Schooloffered their opinions on the president's message.

"Excellent speech," said Andrei H. Cerny '97."Clinton set out the broad parameters and was notbogged down with details."

But others questioned Clinton's ability tocarry out what he promised.

"I have mixed feelings," said Richard G.Abramson '94. "I doubt [Clinton] can achieve thesereforms under managed competition.

Melissa A. Bender '94 agreed. "Something'sgotta give if you control prices," she said. "Itdepends on what you mean by quality of care."

At Cambridge City Hall, residents gathered towatch the speech and participate in a discussionand question-answer period sponsored by HealthCare For All.

Those who attended were presented with a"report card" and were asked to evaluate thepresident's performance on issues such asuniversal access and fair financing.

Clinton's plan is based upon six principleswhich, according to Clinton, will remedy thenation's health care woes.

Security, simplicity, savings, choice, qualityand responsibility are essential to change thesystem which absorb 14 percent of the nationalincome annually, Clinton said.

Although the president did not outline all ofthe details of the plan, he did explain certainkey features of the proposal.

In addition to guaranteeing comprehensive carefor everyone, the plan will include a package ofbenefits which will cover areas ranging fromemergency visits to substance abuse. Medicare willbe maintained and will be expanded to includeprescription drugs.

Clinton also said he hopes to eliminate thepaperwork which plagues hospitals and medicalcenters and to achieve savings such that the rateof increase of medical costs will not exceed thatof inflation.

Also included in the plan is a tax on tobacco,one of the so-called "sin" taxes which wereexpected to be used to cover part of the cost ofthe new plan.

Judith E. Dutton contributed to thereporting of this article. Associated Press wirereports were also used.

As politicians and analysts in Washingtondebated about the presentation and content of thespeech, students gathered at the Kennedy Schooloffered their opinions on the president's message.

"Excellent speech," said Andrei H. Cerny '97."Clinton set out the broad parameters and was notbogged down with details."

But others questioned Clinton's ability tocarry out what he promised.

"I have mixed feelings," said Richard G.Abramson '94. "I doubt [Clinton] can achieve thesereforms under managed competition.

Melissa A. Bender '94 agreed. "Something'sgotta give if you control prices," she said. "Itdepends on what you mean by quality of care."

At Cambridge City Hall, residents gathered towatch the speech and participate in a discussionand question-answer period sponsored by HealthCare For All.

Those who attended were presented with a"report card" and were asked to evaluate thepresident's performance on issues such asuniversal access and fair financing.

Clinton's plan is based upon six principleswhich, according to Clinton, will remedy thenation's health care woes.

Security, simplicity, savings, choice, qualityand responsibility are essential to change thesystem which absorb 14 percent of the nationalincome annually, Clinton said.

Although the president did not outline all ofthe details of the plan, he did explain certainkey features of the proposal.

In addition to guaranteeing comprehensive carefor everyone, the plan will include a package ofbenefits which will cover areas ranging fromemergency visits to substance abuse. Medicare willbe maintained and will be expanded to includeprescription drugs.

Clinton also said he hopes to eliminate thepaperwork which plagues hospitals and medicalcenters and to achieve savings such that the rateof increase of medical costs will not exceed thatof inflation.

Also included in the plan is a tax on tobacco,one of the so-called "sin" taxes which wereexpected to be used to cover part of the cost ofthe new plan.

Judith E. Dutton contributed to thereporting of this article. Associated Press wirereports were also used.