The America's Health Insurance Plans 2008 national policy forum was held in Washington, D.C. last week with many of the nation's leading policy makers and political commentators.
The 2008 presidential election and escalating health care costs were the main topics of the general sessions and lunchtime discussion.
Keynote speaker Chris Matthews, host of the television show "Hardball", focused on the country's changing political landscape and the uncertainty of the Democratic Party's presidential nominee. He predicted that Senator Clinton would go "all the way" to the national convention.
Matthews also advised presidential candidates to focus on health care reform strategies, citing Michael Moore's documentary "Sicko" for much of America's renewed focus on rising health care costs.
"We're in a rut so deep," he said, "that the status quo [has become] worse than doing nothing."
When asked what it would take to reform the current health care system, Matthews replied that it would take "some grand, sweeping, inexplicable and brilliant move;" but cautioned that multiple forces, including policy makers, health plan carriers and consumers must work together to make it happen.
Political commentator and chair of the Democratic National Committee's Voting Rights Institute Donna Brazile called the 2008 race an "election … unlike anything we've ever seen before, and noted that health care is a central campaign issue that the 2008 winner will "quickly want to get a hold of."
Republican political consultant and commentator for "Meet the Press" and NPR's "All Things Considered"Michael Murphy said that the race is a "classic wrong track election" in which candidates will succeed based on their commitment to change, rather than their desire to maintain the status quo.
"It's hard to square the circle here," Murphy added, referring to the burgeoning costs of health care in a struggling economy.
What's your take on the 2008 race? Stay tuned for upcoming coverage on the election where we'll give you in-depth analysis of Clinton, McCain and Obama's views on benefits-related issues.
