Chrysler officer talks on health care reform

Maher said that the American health care system is in dire need of reform, proclaiming that Americans overspent more than $100 billion last year on health care. He said that this inefficiency of the system is a "major handicap" to our economy, preventing needed expenditures in research and development, infrastructure, education and other areas. He said that 36 percent of the anticipated growth in the economy this year will go to health spending, and this number will grow to 41 percent in 1996. "We should be trying to meet the legitimate health care needs in the most efficient fashion," Maher said. "We are swimming in unnecessary health expenditures." Arguing that the primary goals of any reform should be universal access, cost control and quality, he presented three different alternatives to the current system. The first proposal is similar to the Canadian health care plan, in which universal access is provided through a tax-financed health plan, with a limited role for insurance companies. The second possibility he presented was to build on an employment-based system for workers while creating a public program for the poor and the elderly, which is the system the Senate Democratic leadership supports. The third alternative is to reform the tax system, requiring all citizens to purchase insurance for which they will receive tax credits. Most of the over 60 students and faculty members at the lecture said they found the talk very informative. "He's handling a critical topic for all of us," said Link Hart, a second year Wharton graduate student. "It was a great opportunity to get a perspective from the private sector," added graduate student Michael Cabana. The lecture, sponsored by the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, is one in a series of lectures on health reform to be presented this year.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.