A Note On the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress
After a historic election, the Obama administration and the 111th Congress will lead the United States through one of the most turbulent times in American History. The country is faced with a financial crisis, the potential collapse of the American automobile industry, two wars, and an escalating health care crisis.
US Health Care expenditure currently accounts for 17% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (2.4 trillion dollars) and is projected to reach 20% by 2017 (i). There are currently an estimated 45 million uninsured individuals (ii) Americans are increasingly dissatisfied with the US Health Care system and some states have initiated or are exploring health care reform on their own. It is no wonder that despite the other issues we face, health care reform remains among the most pressing.
Both the Obama administration and leaders of Congress have made it clear that health care reform will be on the agenda in 2009. Their resolve will be tested early as key health care issues such as SCHIP reauthorization and the expiration of a moratorium on key CMS regulations regarding Medicaid, will be up for debate early in the year.