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Adam I am not sure either what major reform is meant in this context, but my fear is always that the effect of major reform is to make so many changes so fast that the whole system takes years to recover. The three year rule is that it takes at least this long for the system to be no worse than it was before the changes began. In some cases this makes things so much worse that a need is perceived for another major reform. If the new team has an ounce of sense between them they will opt for a Norwegian style of problem solving rather than system reform - the main difference is that this is based on a clear understanding of the usefulness of each element of change and almost no fanfare. Charles Normand Edward Kennedy Professor of Health Policy & Management University of Dublin Trinity College 3-4 Foster Place Dublin 2 +353 1 896 3075 -----Original Message----- From: Anglo-American Health Policy Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Adam Oliver Sent: 22 December 2008 19:09 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Reform Fyi, although can someone tell me what 'major reform' is? I have no idea - good job no-one rings me to ask these types of questions. I suspect for most people it means "I want cheaper health care coverage for me, now", or "I want the Government to do obviously good things so long as I don't have to pay for it.". But perhaps I'm being too cynical. OBAMA: Majority Supports Major Reforms to Health Care System A majority of U.S. adults believe that President-elect Barack Obama should make major reforms to the health care system, according to a recent Washington Post-ABC News Poll, the Post <https://exchange.lse.ac.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.washingtonp ost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/20/AR2008122001498.html> reports (Cohen/Agiesta, Washington Post, 12/21). The poll, conducted by telephone between Dec. 11 and Dec. 14, included responses from a random sample of 1,003 adults. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. Seventy-seven percent of adults believe that Obama should make major reforms to the health care system, compared with 20% who believe that he should not, the poll found. According to the poll, among adults who believe that Obama should make major reforms to the health care system, 51% believe that he should seek to make such changes immediately after he takes office, and 26% believe that he should wait until later in his presidency. Sixty-eight percent of adults believe that Obama will have the ability to make major reforms to the health care system, compared with 28% who believe that he will not have the ability, the poll found. Almost three-fourths of adults believe that Obama should increase federal funds for health insurance for children, compared with 23% who believe that he should not, according to the poll. Among adults who believe that Obama should increase federal funds for health insurance for children, half believe that he should address the issue immediately, compared with 24% who believe that he should wait, according to the poll. In addition, 52% percent of adults believe that Obama should increase federal funds for embryonic stem cell research, compared with 42% who believe that he should not, the poll found (Washington Post graphic <https://exchange.lse.ac.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.washingtonp ost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/12/21/ST2008122100258.html> , 12/21). Please access the attached hyperlink for an important electronic communications disclaimer: http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/secretariat/legal/disclaimer.htm