Tommy Thompson sees bipartisan cooperation on information technology and chronic disease starting in January 2009.

Topic: Tommy Thompson on Health Care and Partisan Politics

Tommy Thompson: You’ll look at this past election in November, both candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain had this as central part of their healthcare plans, wellness and prevention and trying to do something about chronic illness. So, I’m really, I’m really optimistic that on wellness and prevention there’s bipartisan support, and I think that is absolutely excellent. And that’s why I think next year, 2009, starting in January, a couple of [months] from now, we’re going to see tremendous action and around this particular subject, and I’m very happy about that because Republicans and Democrats both recognize. This is the cornerstone for transforming healthcare in America and making it a more affordable and accessible. The second big area that there’s really bipartisan agreement on is Information Technology, and under that platform, I put under that [rubic] electronic medical record and e-prescribing. And both political parties, Democrats and Republicans support that as well. I mean, they’re going to be, they’re going to have different versions, but the subject, the subject matter both political parties recognize the importance of doing something about a disease system and change it to a wellness system, most individuals that are elected recognized chronic illnesses are going to be dealt with and they can be dealt with in a bipartisan basis, the same way with Information Technology. So, I think we’re well down the field towards a healthcare transformation touchdown if we keep our eye on the ball and take it up next year. If we do nothing else but fix wellness and prevention and disease management and chronic illnesses and IT, I will be happy because that’s, those are huge items and we can have bipartisan support on all of those.

Recorded On: 10/30/08