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Your Candidates-Your Health
Presidential Election ‘08

1. Which of the following statements best describes your view of our current health care system?

• Overall, the health care system is working and needs only some minor adjustments
• Significant changes are needed to make our health care system work much better
• Our health care system is broken and needs a complete overhaul

Comments_______________________________________________________________

2. In a recent survey, a majority of Americans (81%) say they are dissatisfied with the cost of health care in this country. As President how will you address health care costs for Americans?

Comments________________________________________________________________

3. Do you agree or disagree that it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure all Americans have basic health care coverage?

• Agree
• Disagree
• Don't know
• No opinion

Comments_______________________________________________________________

4. How well do you think the Medicare prescription drug benefit for seniors is working?

• Working very well
• Working well
• Working somewhat
• Not working well
• Don't know
• No opinion

Comments__________________________________________________________________

5. What strategies would you use to increase the focus on prevention and wellness in our health care system?

Comments__________________________________________________________________

6. Most agree that the use of standardized electronic health records (EHRs) will make the health care system more efficient and reduce medical errors. As President, do you think the cost of implementing EHRs should be paid for by the public sector, the private sector or some combination of the two?

• Public
• Private
• Combination
• Don't know
• No opinion

Comments______________________________________________________________________

7. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the agency that funds most of the medical and health research paid for by U.S. taxpayers. Since 2003, funding for the NIH has been outpaced by inflation. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view on funding for NIH?

• Funding for NIH is not a priority
• Current U.S. funding for medical and health research is sufficient and other budget items are higher priorities now
• The U.S. must increase investment in NIH as a critical strategy to improve health care

Comments_____________________________________________________________________

8. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is charged with protecting the health and safety of Americans. In recent years, funding for core programs (such as chronic disease and injury prevention, tobacco control and environmental health) at the CDC has been cut. Which of the following statements most accurately reflects your view?

• Funding for CDC core programs is not a priority
• Maintain current funding levels for CDC core programs because other budget items take precedence
• Increase funding for core programs at CDC to improve public health

Comments______________________________________________________________________

9. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is the lead federal agency charged with funding health services research, which seeks to rapidly translate discoveries from research into medical practice and improve the quality, safety and effectiveness of health care. Since 2002, funding for AHRQ has been cut or remained flat. Which of the following statements most accurately reflects your view?

• Funding for AHRQ is not a priority
• Current funding for AHRQ is sufficient and other budget priorities exist
• AHRQ funding should be increased as a strategy to improve health care quality and safety in the U.S.

Comments_______________________________________________________________________

10. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety and effectiveness of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation's food supply, cosmetics and products that emit radiation. Which of the following statements best reflects your opinion?

• Funding for FDA is not a priority
• Current funding levels are sufficient for FDA to fulfill its mission
• Current funding levels for FDA are not keeping pace with accelerated drug and device creation or the increasing globalization of food supplies

Comments_________________________________________________________________________

11. How important would you say it is that the U.S. work to improve health globally? If important, please describe how you plan to increase our nation's role in promoting and improving global health. If not, please explain why.

• Very important
• Somewhat important
• Not too important
• Not at all important
• Don't know
• No opinion

Comments__________________________________________________________________________

12. Do you support or oppose increasing federal funding for state/local health departments and hospitals across the country that are expected to prepare for and respond to threats to our health?

• Support
• Oppose
• Don't know
• No opinion

Physicians

• A top priority
• High priority
• Somewhat of a priority
• Not too much of a priority
• Low priority
• Not a priority at all
• Don't know
• No opinion

Nurses

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