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The latest reports in Health Policy | Perspectives Examine Health Care Sector influence in 2008 elections, U.S. health reform efforts

Aug 23, 2007

• "Election 2008 -- Campaign Contributions, Lobbying, and the U.S. Health Sector," New England Journal of Medicine: In the perspective piece, Robert Steinbrook, a national correspondent for NEJM, discusses the role that health care sector lobbying and campaign contributions will play in the 2008 presidential election.

• According to Steinbrook, only a small percentage of campaign contributions to date are from the health sector even though health care ranks among the most important issues for voters. Steinbrook predicts that contributions to candidates in the future "may increase in the months ahead," but "they will continue to be dwarfed by the amount the sector spends on lobbying" as there are "no assurances that the election of a new president will lead to major changes" (Steinbrook, NEJM, 8/23).

• "Healing Our 'Sicko' Health Care System," NEJM: In the perspective , Jacob Hacker, a political science professor at Yale University and fellow at the New America Foundation, discusses why efforts to overhaul the U.S. health care system have failed and provides suggestions for improving the structure of health insurance. Hacker also discusses Michael Moore's health care industry documentary, "Sicko," and the strengths and shortcomings of proposals supported by Moore (Hacker, NEJM, 8/23).