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"We don't seem to be making much progress politically; it's easy to becynical when it comes to health care," said McClellan, current Director of theEngelberg Center for Health Care Reform and Senior Fellow at the BrookingsInstitute. "Just focusing on cost reduction doesn't do much to solve theproblem of getting more value for what we are spending."
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McClellan characterized as unsustainable short-term strategies such asacross-the-board reductions in Medicare reimbursement fees for physicians andcoverage policies that prevent access to the latest biomedical technologies;yet indicated a shift is clearly afoot within both political parties ascandidates move towards a value-based, quality-focused approach to improvingcare for millions of Americans.
"There simply isn't any additional funding available for new health careprograms, but this presents the foundation for changing health care," saidMcClellan. "Each of the political candidates is demonstrating a new emphasison improving quality and efficiency of care."
McClellan highlighted improved management of chronic diseases andcomplications; improved identification of patients at risk for chronicdiseases; an increased focus on wellness; and better support for navigation ofthe health care system as strategies espoused by both parties that have thepotential to improve quality of care.
"Both party's candidates are placing a greater emphasis than ever beforeon strategies like chronic disease prevention and healthcare informationtechnology," said McClellan.
McClellan commented on additional issues facing the current and futurehealth care landscape:
About Medco
Medco Health Solutions, Inc., (NYSE: MHS) is the nation's leading pharmacybenefit manager based on its 2007 total net revenues of more than $44 billion.Medco's prescription drug benefit programs, covering approximately one-in-fiveAmericans, are designed to drive down the cost of pharmacy health care forprivate and public employers, health plans, labor unions and governmentagencies of all sizes, and for individuals served by the Medicare Part DPrescription Drug Program and those served by its specialty pharmacy segment,Accredo Health Group. Medco, the world's most advanced pharmacy(TM), ispositioned to serve the unique needs of patients with chronic and complexconditions through its Medco Therapeutic Resource Centers(R), including itsenhanced diabetes pharmacy care practice through the Liberty acquisition.Medco is the highest-ranked independent pharmacy benefit manager on the 2008Fortune 100 list. On the Net: http://www.medco.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term isdefined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Thesestatements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differmaterially from those set forth in the statements. No forward-lookingstatement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially fromthose projected. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, orotherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should beevaluated together with the risks and uncertainties that affect our business,particularly those mentioned in the Risk Factors section of the Company'sAnnual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed wi
