Notable & Quotable

“I don’t think anybody’s got a better handle on health care than me.”
— Former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, on his announcement that he might seek the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. Thompson, who headed HHS from 2001 to 2005, predicted that health care and energy would be the top two issues in the next election. He added that the U.S. health care system would implode by 2013 without major reforms. Thomson said he will establish an exploratory committee and will make a decision by spring.

Source: Des Moines Register

$9 billion Size the overall global obesity treatment market is expected to reach by 2010

Source: Kalorama Information

24% of Americans polled said that during the past two years they have skipped a visit to the doctor for a checkup or medical problem because the amount they would have to pay is too high.

Source: HealthMarkets

120,000 The number by which nursing home residents age 65 and older has dropped since 1999, due to healthier and wealthier seniors, nursing homes’ focus on post-acute rehabilitation, more widely available alternatives, and states’ efforts to reduce the number by diverting individuals away at critical times such as hospital discharge

Source: The Lewin Group

27,000 -57,000 deaths could be pre- vented for COPD patients each year if they received oxygen therapy at home.

Source: Rand Corp.

67% of Americans polled chose increased spending by the government to develop treatment and cures for cancer, heart disease and diabetes when asked to pick a public health priority. 14% pointed to prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and 13% chose better preparation for public health threats like avian flu.

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation

1.4% Percentage Medicaid spending fell during the first nine months of 2006, the first time spending has decreased in the history of the program

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis