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Survey of Iowa Voters Reveals Surprising Results and Attitudes Toward America's Health Care Crisis

Tuesday, October 9, 2007 General News
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DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 9 The state where voters have thefirst say in U.S. presidential primaries has also weighed in on a critical2008 campaign issue: health care. According to a survey conducted by anational, nonpartisan citizens' group, a solid majority of Iowa voters agreethe current health care system is broken-and they don't trust politicians tofix it.
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Those surveyed also believe health care services should stress diseaseprevention over high-technology cures, more public accountability is needed inhow health care dollars are spent, and "basic" health services should includeaccess to any licensed health care professional. And while the survey resultsrevealed no solid consensus among voters on how to pay for services, they alsoindicated no strong preferences for either government run health care orpersonal responsibility, leaning instead for shared responsibility.
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CodeBlueNow!, a nonpartisan, nonprofit, citizen organization formed tobuild public consensus and find common ground on health care reform, hired TheGilmore Research Group, a Northwest market research firm, to conduct thesurvey, known as the CodeBlueNow! Pulse. This CodeBlueNow! Pulse focused onkey principles and core values that could form the foundation for a new healthcare system.

While the Iowan respondents identified key elements they would like to seein the health care system, they have little confidence in the very groups thathave the power to change the system. Only 22 percent said they would trustthe federal government to fix the system, and only 12 percent thought thePresidential election would help chart a new vision for health care in theU.S.

When it comes to the candidates' proposals, respondents thought theDemocrats had the most meaningful plans (38 percent). Just 15 percent saidRepublican candidates have the best proposals, and 29 percent chose to remainneutral regarding health care plans provided by either party. When asked howthey vote, 28 percent indicated they were independent or their vote varied.

When asked who should be in charge of designing a new system, a majorityof Iowans surveyed said they would pick health care professionals and non-profit organizations before choosing business professionals, federalgovernment, or academic institutions. A resounding 65 percent of respondentssaid they would support a non-partisan, non-profit civic organization composedof regular citizens.

"The people of Iowa have spoken-they want accountability, choice, and areopen to a range of options on how to pay for health care," said formerMinnesota Gov. Arne Carlson, a Republican, and a CodeBlueNow! Honorary Boardmember.

"It is very exciting to see the lack of polarization in these surveyfindings," says Kathleen O'Connor, Founder and CEO of CodeBlueNow! "We mustmove past the failed health care debate of socialized medicine versus themarketplace. It's clear Iowans have. It is also clear from their own voiceshow deeply they want fairness for the vulnerable-children and seniors."

According to O'Connor, the CodeBlueNow! Pulse sets the survey data fromIowa voters as a baseline that can be tested across the country. "TheAmerican people are smart enough to work together to solve this problem," sheadded. "We the people need to tell the candidates what is important increating a health care system that works for us, not against us."

CodeBlueNow! Pulse findings will be used to develop a template thatcompares Iowan views with those of the presidential candidates' health careproposals, and ultimately provides a national public platform to advancediscussion on national health care reform.

"It's clear that Iowans -- probably like most Americans -- draw from bothsides of the aisle," said Richard Lamm, a former three-term governor ofColorado and a Democrat who also serves on the Code Blue Now! Honorary Board."This is a dire
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