'Consumer Reports' Chief Backs Health Overhaul (video of CR's first ever TV ad)

[Bozita]

Source: NPR


'Consumer Reports' Chief Backs Health Overhaul
by LIZ HALLORAN


October 7, 2009

In a historic step this week, the nonprofit Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports magazine, unveiled the first television advertisement in its 72-year history: a spot that encourages Congress to overhaul health care this year.

The 30-second advertisement, which features Consumers Union President and Chief Executive Officer James A. Guest, puts the reputation and clout of the iconic consumer empire firmly behind fundamental change to the way Americans are insured and receive their health care.

The commercial, Guest said in an interview with NPR, simply expresses what he and Consumers Union have been advocating since its founding, though the ad has rankled some subscribers who say they view it as an unnecessary entry into the political fray.

Guest, however, says pushback has been minimal, and his organization's leaders were united in their decision to release the ad.

Read more: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113547057

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Link to the video of the 30 second ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c_svnBE_vE

[tigereye]

1. that's wonderful!

:thumbsup: Nice to see the voices of reason weighing in... rather than the voices of hyperbole and paranoia...

[Judi Lynn]

2. Excellent move. Whatever subscribers they could lose will be regained in new sales, no doubt!

Hope this story gets the attention it deserves.

Thank you.

[TygrBright]

3. Finally, we get a "big dog" in th fight on OUR side! Woo-hoo!

Thank you Mr. Guest. I will renew my subscription and upgrade.

appreciatively,
Bright

[onehandle]

4. It's not political. It's logical. nt

[Better Today]

5. Sort of lame, I wish they had voiced an opinion as to the best choice

for consumers re: PO, SP, and Mandates.

[tazkcmo]

6. From the article...

So what does Guest want to see in a health care bill, from a consumer perspective? A public insurance plan to compete with private plans; changes in the doctor reimbursement system to stress quality, not quantity; a sliding payment scale based on ability to pay; and better consumer information on medications and treatment.

[Better Today]

9. I was remarking on the tv ad, which is the only thing most people will see.

[Bozita]

7. from the CR magazine which arrived earlier today, ...

"CU, ... , backs a reformed system offering a choice between private insurance plans and a public option,and believes that all plans should meet minimum standards for coverage."
Page 10, bottom left


More:
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/health/2009/10/health-care-reform-bill-proposals-in-congress-2009-costs-pay.html

[Hugin]

8. KnR