Hagel on the issues - HEALTH CARE

Part 9 in the series on Hagel's issue positions. From his website:

HEALTH CARE

• Senator Hagel formed a Health Care Commission which has brought together key health care professionals and leaders from Nebraska and the nation's health care fields. The purpose of the Commission is to review the current state of health care and present recommendations for a sustainable, accessible, affordable and quality health care system for the 21st century.

"Health Care Commission Presents Recommendations to Hagel"

Here is a press release from Chuck Hagel's Senate office regarding the health care panel he put together last year:

February 2nd, 2007 - OMAHA, NE - The Health Care Commission empaneled by U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) today presented its recommendations for reform of America’s health care system in a press conference at Creighton University. Hagel empaneled the Commission in February of last year with a mandate to focus on developing recommendations for an accessible, affordable, sustainable and quality health care system for the 21st century. The Commission brought together key professionals and leaders from Nebraska’s and the nation’s health care fields. Hagel asked them to provide him with recommendations within a year.

“I hear about health care issues from Nebraskans every day. It is an issue that touches the lives of every American. I am grateful to these highly respected health care professionals who have volunteered their time, energy and expertise to this project over the past 11 months. I asked them to give me their most honest assessment of what should be done to reform our health care system and that is what they have done. The Commission has developed creative and important ideas to help meet America’s health care needs in the 21st century. I look forward to reviewing their recommendations and using them as a basis from which to craft legislation that I intend to introduce in this Congress,” Hagel said.

Charles Marr, founding CEO of Alegent Health in Omaha, served as the Commission’s Chairman. “I thank our talented and dedicated Commission members who have created a new vision for accessible and sustainable health care in America,” Marr said.

The Commission focused on all facets of health care, including health care costs and access to reliable health care. The Commission met eleven times in order to produce the report presented to Hagel.

Lung Cancer Resolution passed by the Senate

The Senate passed Chuck Hagel's Lung Cancer Resolution yesterday. The press release is below.

May 3rd, 2006 - WASHINGTON, DC – Senate Resolution 408, introduced by U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) calling on President Bush to declare lung cancer a national public health priority, passed the Senate last night by unanimous consent. The resolution calls on the President to increase funding for lung cancer research, develop early detection lung cancer screening programs and appoint an advisory committee to oversee and coordinate efforts to reduce lung cancer mortality rates.

"A coordinated, comprehensive effort by the federal government to reduce the lung cancer mortality rate is critical. It is estimated that over 900 Nebraskans will die of lung cancer in 2006. This resolution is a positive step in our efforts to detect and prevent this deadly disease," said Hagel. Nebraska will be the first in the nation to initiate a state-wide screening program for lung cancer.


The legislation lays out a multi-agency action blueprint for reducing lung cancer’s high mortality by at least 50 percent within the next 10 years. The legislation emphasizes the need for a carefully coordinated approach among the federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Department of Defense, in focusing on earlier detection and more effective treatments.

"By coming together and working as a team, we can make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans who have been affected by this disease," said Lung Cancer Alliance President Laurie Fenton.

Yahoo news also has the story.

"Laurie Fenton, president of the Lung Cancer Alliance, praised Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE)"

Health Care

The following is from what Chuck Hagel wrote the letter mentioned an earlier post. Health care reform was one of his six priorities, and has been addressed on this blog previously.

“Health care is an issue that touches the lives of every American. As medical technologies advance and our population ages, health care will become increasingly important to maintaining American’s competitive position in the world. Last month, I created a health care commission made up of 15 prominent health care professionals from all sectors of the health care industry. The commission will review the current state of health care and present recommendations to develop a sustainable, accessible, affordable, and quality health care system for the 21^st Century.”

Technorati tags: Chuck Hagel, Health Care

More details on Senator Hagel's Health Care Reform Commission

Here is the statement put out on Senator Hagel's Senate website.

Hagel Announces Health Care Reform Commission

February 22nd, 2006 - OMAHA, NE - U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) announced today at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) the formation of a Health Care Reform Commission. The purpose of the Commission is to review the current state of health care and present recommendations to develop a sustainable, accessible, affordable and quality health care system for the 21st century. The Commission will bring together key professionals and leaders from Nebraska’s and the nation’s health care fields. "I hear about health care issues from Nebraskans every day. It is an issue that touches the lives of every American. As medical technologies advance and our population ages, health care will become increasingly important to maintaining America’s competitive position in the world. The Commission’s work will help develop new ideas to meet America’s health care needs in the 21st century," Hagel said. Hagel announced that Chuck Marr, founding CEO of Alegent Health in Omaha, will serve as the Commission’s Chairman. "Having accessible, affordable and quality health care is the desire of every American. The task of the Health Care Reform Commission is to evaluate our current health care system and recommend new approaches which will assure a sustainable health care system for every family. We look forward to working with Senator Hagel in this important and far-reaching work," Marr said. The Commission will focus on all facets of health care, including health care costs and access to reliable health care. The Commission will have one year to produce a written report about the current state of health care and present recommendations to Senator Hagel. "I am grateful to the health care professionals who have volunteered their time, energy and expertise to this project. I am especially grateful to Chuck Marr for agreeing to head the Commission," Hagel said. - 30 - Attached is a fact sheet detailing the Health Care Reform Commission. Health Care Reform Commission U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) Purpose: The Commission on Health Care Reform will review the current state of health care and present recommendations to develop a sustainable, accessible, affordable and quality health care system for the 21st century. Mandate: The final report of recommendations will define the challenges facing the U.S. health care system, and recommend legislative initiatives that need to be made at the federal level to accomplish this mandate. The Commission will focus on the following areas: Improvement of health care quality and delivery in America. Containment of health care costs. Role medical science and technology will continue to have in health care reform. Improvement of access to health care for all Americans. Exploring more effective financing vehicles for American health care than current public and private plans. Addressing the "baby boom" demographic and its impact on future health care costs and services. Reporting Requirements: The Commission will submit its final report of recommendations 12 months after it begins its work. Commission Members: Commission Chairman Chuck Marr, founding CEO of Alegent Health; Dr. Todd Sorensen, Regional West Medical Center; Jack Vetter, Vetter Health Services, Inc.; Dr. Keith Mueller, UNMC; Mike DeFreece, MarketSphere Consulting, LLC; Dr. Daniel Wilson, Creighton University Medical Center; Dr. Mary Lee Fitzsimmons, Iowa/Nebraska Primary Care Association; Dr. J. Chris Bradberry, Creighton University Medical Center; Steve Martin, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Nebraska; Lisa Lechowicz, HDM Corporation; Dr. Dennis Goeschel, UNMC; Dr. Virginia Tilden, UNMC; Dr. Bill Bush, doctor of Private Practice in Anesthesiology; Jim Berarducci, Kurt Salmon Associates, Inc. and Dr. Charles Gregorius, Associated Anesthesiologists.

Health Care

Senator Hagel forms a commission to study health care in America.

A special commission formed by Nebraska U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel is looking for ways to fix America's health care system.

"Unless we come to grips with this issue, then I fear we will see the finest health care system in the history of man come apart. And we cannot afford to let that happen," Hagel said.

From KETV.com

Health care is a topic that is becoming increasingly more important in our society and I'm glad that Senator Hagel views it as an important issue.