[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[February 6, 1992]
[Pages 209-211]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks to the Staff of the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada 
in Las Vegas, Nevada

February 6, 1992
    Thank you all very much. And again, I apologize if we've kept this 
distinguished group, busy people, waiting. But we're delighted to be 
here. It's kind of a hit-and-run day. It started in Cleveland where I 
announced the fundamentals of a new national approach for health care 
which I intend to work very hard for. But I want to thank Dr. Brandness 
and single out the Governor of the State, who has been most hospitable 
to me since we've been here. Also Barbara Vucanovich, who is a 
Congressman here, a great friend of mine of long standing, and simply 
say that I'm very pleased to be here to thank all of you for this 
afternoon's tour.
    You can't help but when you walk through these halls and see the 
incredible work and dedication of the people, as we saw both at the 
neonatal care and the burn care center, you can't help but count your 
blessings for those who are devoting their lives to helping others. When 
you see somebody treating babies like that, tiny preemies, or those 
ravaged by burns, it just, at least in my heart, evokes tremendous 
gratitude and admiration for what you do. So, I hope you know that 
people outside the medical profession are extraordinarily grateful to 
those who give of themselves as you all do.
    I did release this comprehensive health care program earlier today. 
And let me just, without giving you the full load, summarize a little 
bit. I know you're used to extended debates about health care. You 
probably get a lot of requests for free advice on this subject and many 
others. But I think everyone understands, all of you do, something that 
politicians sometimes forget, and that is that America's medical system 
offers the best care in the world.
    It's not simply that we start with the scientific and research end, 
with far more Nobel Prize winners in medicine than any other country, 
but it's just generally the quality of care. And when people from other 
countries seek the best possible care, you just have to look, where do 
they go? Well, they come to the United States of America.
    And with all the problems and all the breathless press reports about 
health care, I think of the guy who got in a car accident. And when he 
got to the hospital, the doctor set his broken bones, examined him 
carefully, and assured him that he could go home the next day. The next 
day came, and the doctor rushed to the patient's room with a look of 
great anxiety and concern. ``Is something wrong?'' the patient said. The 
doctor replied, ``I'm not sure. Just to be safe, I'd like you to stay 
another day. You see, I didn't know how badly you were injured until I 
read about your accident in the newspaper.'' [Laughter]
    Well, there's a parallel here. Reports of

[[Page 210]]

the demise of American medicine in my view are greatly exaggerated. I 
will repeat, American medicine is the best in the entire world. My 
comprehensive health care plan builds on the strengths, on these 
strengths of our medical care system. I will not endorse nor go with a 
nationalized--they used to say socialized medicine--a nationalized plan 
that will guarantee only long lines, indifferent service, and very high 
taxes.
    And I've worked hard to come up with a plan that will work. And 
that's the plan that we are proposing. It addresses Americans' basic 
concerns about health care: that too many people don't have access to 
care, I think we could all agree on that; that it costs too much; and 
that you can't be sure of keeping coverage if you change your job or if 
you or someone in your family has an illness or an injury. This plan 
ensures that every worker, regardless of health status, can get health 
care coverage, can choose providers, can afford care, and can keep it.
    Let me just outline the plan in brief for you. It's got four points. 
One, we make health care affordable by offering a health insurance tax 
credit, a voucher, to low-income individuals and families, and then a 
health insurance tax deduction to middle-income individuals and 
families. Poor people who pay no taxes at all are covered, and they'll 
get insurance for free. These measures will help 95 million Americans 
purchase the health insurance that they need.
    Two, we improve the efficiency of our system by reforming the 
insurance system and developing what we call health insurance networks. 
You probably refer to it as pooling. These networks will improve 
efficiency, and they literally will help drive insurance costs down. We 
make consumers of health care better able to compare costs, keep 
competition in the health care system.
    Three, we're going to work hard to wring out the waste and excess. 
And we start by putting a lid on these outrageous medical malpractice 
lawsuits. Over the past decade malpractice insurance, the premiums, have 
risen by an average of more than 15 percent per year. This national 
epidemic of lawsuits has persuaded some doctors to avoid such vital 
specialties as surgery or obstetrics. America's love for the lawsuit has 
just got to stop. And we've got legislation up there trying to do 
something about it. And it really is important in cost control, as 
everyone here knows. It's very, very fundamentally important in how we 
pay for the whole program.
    Fourth, we're going to get the growth of Federal health programs 
under control. This isn't easy politically, but we've got to do it. 
Medicaid went up 38 percent this year alone. And we'll encourage major 
innovation at the State and local levels, and we'll do this without 
cutting benefits. And I believe it can be done without raising taxes.
    America has been blessed by the world's best doctors, the best 
hospitals. I heard today how this hospital had been able to battle down 
the costs, eliminating some of the deficit that has been around. We've 
got the finest training institutions in this country; really, we have 
the finest. And this plan will not undermine this base of quality and 
excellence. You don't need your hands bound by redtape either, and you 
don't need these stethoscopes replaced by Federal millstones.
    Having been around hospitals and blessed by seeing loving care for 
our kids, I am absolutely convinced that the medical profession is 
dedicated to the concept of service. This debate must not diminish that, 
must not take that away from the medical community at all. And I think 
you need our support. Everyone has got to play a part. I'm prepared to 
play mine in building a healthier Nation.
    Every hospital depends also, as we all know, not just on 
professionals but also on volunteers. And you know this better than 
anyone, all of you do. Hundreds of thousands of people across this 
country, in literally hundreds of thousands of groups and organizations 
give their time to make medical care accessible to others. And every 
community relies not just on professionals, not just on physicians but 
also on teachers, on counselors, on nurses, people giving of themselves 
to help others along the path to good health. Our Secretary of HHS, Dr. 
Lou Sullivan, has talked eloquently about the rule of character in 
health. He's mounted an effective campaign to encourage preventive care. 
He teaches people about good

[[Page 211]]

habits, decent behavior, promotes the cause of immunization.
    Celebrities, including my friend Arnold Schwarzenegger, promote 
active, healthy lifestyles. I might say a word about him. He's head of 
our Commission on Fitness, and he's taken it very seriously. He's gone 
to 28 States, all pro bono, and taken a message out there that the young 
people of this country are responding to. So, lifestyle is important. 
And I don't know about you, but when Arnold says exercise, I exercise. 
[Laughter] The point I'm trying to make is that everyone has a role. And 
this plan really encourages people to work together.
    And so, I just again want to thank the doctors across this country, 
using all of you as the audience here today, but others not just here 
but around the country, for the careers that you've embarked on and are 
ennobling, on the challenge that you've chosen. And I am determined to 
push for a health care plan that will work. I think we've got it, and I 
think we can do it without diminishing and losing the wonder of 
individual initiative and excellence. That's the hallmark, that's the 
underpinning of this plan. And needless to say, I don't want to see this 
many influential people assembled without putting in a pitch for it. So, 
please help us if you can, if you agree with us.
    And thank you for what's been a wonderful few minutes for me in a 
busy day, started in Cleveland where we went to a hospital in Cleveland 
and then talked about a little more detail about this plan, then here 
today, and to San Diego tomorrow, going in there this evening. But it's 
been a joyous day for me. And thank you for what you do in helping other 
people across this country. Thank you so much.

                    Note: The President spoke at 5:25 p.m. at University 
                        Medical Center. In his remarks, he referred to 
                        Dr. David Brandness, chief executive officer of 
                        the center.