Results for America in Health Care and Medical Research

Who are we?
Results for America is a project initiated by the Civil Society Institute, a non-profit, independent organization dedicated to supporting and encouraging the involvement of community level groups and individuals in the public life of the country.

Results for America includes patients and nurses, doctors and administrators, scientists and activists, religious, cultural, business and community leaders. We are civil society—the people who make our communities work. And now it is time for us to speak out together. Join us.

Results for America calls on politicians and candidates from all parties to discover America and listen to the voices of experience and wisdom on the challenges we face together as a nation.

Why have we come together?
In poll after poll, health care consistently ranks as one of Americans' top concerns, regardless of age, income or political affiliation. While the cost of basic health care services and prescriptions continues to rise, federal funding for medical research that could lead to breakthrough cures for many crippling diseases is inadequate.

It is time for our voices to be heard in opposition to our profit-driven health care system and in support of innovative ideas that will make America healthier and more prosperous.

We are asking tough questions.
Finding the right answers means asking the right questions.

Look over the following questions. Add some of your own. Share what is on your mind with your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues.

Even better, ask candidates, policymakers and the media these same questions—and make it clear that you want straight answers.

Ask:

• Why do an estimated 41 million Americans live without even basic health insurance?
• Why has federally-funded stem cell research slowed in the US when it holds so much promise for those suffering from life-threatening diseases?
• Is there an economic benefit to a greater national commitment to medical research?
• What are the long-term effects of under-funding medical research?
• What are the long-term economic effects of so many uninsured or under-insured Americans?
• Is there an economic benefit to providing universal health care?
• How can pharmaceutical companies be compelled to spend less on marketing and more on research and development?
• Why do consumers lack full access to affordable generic prescription drugs?
• Should the states or the federal government have a role in setting prescription drug prices?

Back to top

We are supporting ideas that work.
Most Americans agree that our health care system needs to be overhauled. And most agree on what the key components of an improved system should be:

• Universal health care coverage for all US citizens.
• Portable coverage, so workers retain coverage even when they change employers.
• A mix of public and private funding for the delivery of health care services.
• A 10% cap for administrative fees and profits by insurers and HMOs.
• Public oversight to ensure that accepted national standards of care are met.
• Improved access to generic prescription drugs.
• Well-regulated and affordable prescription pricing.
• Renewed investment in stem cell and other cutting-edge medical research to cure diabetes, cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other afflictions.

We are creating a new dialogue about health and health care.
We can no longer afford to leave America's long-term health in the hands of insurance companies, for-profit HMOs and special interest groups.

So we are creating new opportunities for the discussion of these issues and developing forums where our voices will be heard by policymakers. Throughout the next year and beyond, we will be finding new ways to keep health care and medical research high on everyone's agenda.

Be sure to share your concerns, ideas and dreams for how to fix our broken health care system. You can write to local, state or national elected officials or people running for local, state or national office. Tell them what is working and what needs improvement.

We cannot afford to allow health and health care to be forgotten. Every candidate needs to know that we expect real leadership on both health care and medical research.

How can you do more?
Download your Results for America health toolkit.

In your toolkit, you will find everything you need to help make health care a vital issue in 2004 and beyond. You will discover ways to connect with others in your community and nationwide who share your hopes and concerns. Download eye-opening articles, suggested talking points and postcards. You can even send personalized emails to your friends and neighbors to encourage them to get involved.

We invite you to join us in getting Results for America in health care and medical research.

Every American deserves a healthy future.

Back to top

What is the problem?
Forty-one million Americans—most of them employed—live without health insurance. Our most vulnerable citizens cannot afford life-saving prescription drugs. Even though we have the most costly health care system per capita in the world, the US economy loses as much as $130 billion each and every year due to costs associated with the health needs of uninsured Americans.

Meanwhile, as the US population ages and heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other diseases affect more and more Americans, the federal commitment to medical research is lagging. Although a majority of us favor increased stem cell research, this promising avenue of federally funded research has been frustrated by a politically powerful minority. Heart disease and stroke are the first and third leading causes of death for adult Americans and cost the US economy $330 billion in 2002. The human and financial costs of this stagnation are staggering.