Public support for health system reform drops

Most people still believe health system reform is important, but that support is softening.

	Get better	Get worse	Stay the same	It depends	Don't know/ no answer
The quality of your health care:
02/09	29%	14%	52%	2%	2%
07/09	30%	25%	40%	3%	3%
The cost of health care for you and your family:
02/09	39%	16%	39%	2%	5%
07/09	35%	25%	32%	4%	5%
Your choice of doctors and hospitals:
02/09	24%	18%	52%	3%	4%
07/09	25%	26%	43%	2%	4%
Your wait times for nonemergency procedures and treatments:
02/09	23%	25%	47%	2%	4%
07/09	19%	34%	40%	3%	4%

Public agreement with the need for system reform dipped by five percentage points -- to 56% -- from June to July, a recent poll found. Respondents' thoughts about how reform might affect them also were more negative in the July poll, compared with answers given in February.

Source: Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, July (www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/posr072309pkg.cfm)

Quick View snapshots are assembled by members of our staff.

The print version of this content appeared in the Aug 17, 2009 issue of American Medical News.

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