DES MOINES, IOWA - October 9, 2007 - The state where voters have the first say in U.S. presidential primaries has also weighed in on a critical 2008 campaign issue: health care. According to a survey conducted by a national, nonpartisan citizens' group, a solid majority of Iowa voters agree the current health care system is broken-and they don’t trust politicians to fix it.

Those surveyed also believe health care services should stress disease prevention over high-technology cures, more public accountability is needed in how health care dollars are spent, and "basic" health services should include access to any licensed health care professional. And while the survey results revealed no solid consensus among voters on how to pay for services, they also indicated no strong preferences for either government run health care or personal responsibility, leaning instead for shared responsibility.

CodeBlueNow!, a nonpartisan, nonprofit, citizen organization formed to build public consensus and find common ground on health care reform, hired The Gilmore Research Group, a Northwest market research firm, to conduct the survey, known as the CodeBlueNow! Pulse. This CodeBlueNow! Pulse focused on key principles and core values that could form the foundation for a new health care system.

While the Iowan respondents identified key elements they would like to see in the health care system, they have little confidence in the very groups that have the power to change the system. Only 22 percent said they would trust the federal government to fix the system, and only 12 percent thought the Presidential election would help chart a new vision for health care in the U.S.

When it comes to the candidates' proposals, respondents thought the Democrats had the most meaningful plans (38 percent). Just 15 percent said Republican candidates have the best proposals, and 29 percent chose to remain neutral regarding health care plans provided by either party. When asked how they vote, 28 percent indicated they were independent or their vote varied.

When asked who should be in charge of designing a new system, a majority of Iowans surveyed said they would pick health care professionals and non-profit organizations before choosing business professionals, federal government, or academic institutions. A resounding 65 percent of respondents said they would support a non-partisan, non-profit civic organization composed of regular citizens.

"The people of Iowa have spoken-they want accountability, choice, and are open to a range of options on how to pay for health care," said former Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson, a Republican, and a CodeBlueNow! Honorary Board member.

"It is very exciting to see the lack of polarization in these survey findings," says Kathleen O'Connor, Founder and CEO of CodeBlueNow! "We must move past the failed health care debate of socialized medicine versus the marketplace. It's clear Iowans have. It is also clear from their own voices how deeply they want fairness for the vulnerable-children and seniors."

According to O'Connor, the CodeBlueNow! Pulse sets the survey data from Iowa voters as a baseline that can be tested across the country.
"The American people are smart enough to work together to solve this problem," she added. "We the people need to tell the candidates what is important in creating a health care system that works for us, not against us."

CodeBlueNow! Pulse findings will be used to develop a template that compares Iowan views with those of the presidential candidates' health care proposals, and ultimately provides a national public platform to advance discussion on national health care reform.

Among the survey highlights:
1. 80 percent of respondents said they were satisfied with their access to health care services, and 84 percent were satisfied with the quality of care they received.
2. While only 34 percent admitted being dissatisfied with the cost of their health care services, 61 percent were dissatisfied with nationwide health care costs.
3. 71 percent agreed it is important that all Americans have health insurance coverage, and 69 percent believe that "basic" benefits should include coverage for any licensed health care professional, such as naturopathic physicians, midwives, acupuncturists, and chiropractors.
4. 61 percent said that the public should have a larger role in designing and managing a new health care system.
5. 75 percent agreed that America needs the same kind of public reporting and accountability in health care that exists for public companies, such as water and power companies.
6. 63 percent said there is enough money already going into the health care system to provide quality care, but the money needs to be used more effectively and efficiently. 38 percent said they would be willing to pay more for health care if they knew how and where the money was being spent, while 35 percent would pay more to ensure that their neighbors got the care they needed.
7. 69 percent said health care services should stress preventing disease rather than relying on high technology cures.
8. 58 percent said employers should continue to play a major role in providing health insurance, and 62 percent said that health insurance should be a shared responsibility of individuals, employers, and government.

"It's clear that Iowans- probably like most Americans- draw from both sides of the aisle," said Richard Lamm, a former three-term governor of Colorado and a Democrat who also serves on the Code Blue Now! Honorary Board. "This is a direct challenge to the candidates-to succeed in winning the hearts and minds of the American people, they need to move beyond party platforms."

The CodeBlueNow! Pulse will survey voters in other key states over the next six months, and will report on its findings periodically through various national media as well as on the organization's website, www.codeblue.org. Citizens nationwide are also encouraged to add their voice to the CodeBlueNow! Pulse by visiting the website and taking the CodeBlueNow! Pulse online.

The CodeBlueNow! Pulse surveyed 601 voters in Iowa between August 23 and September 13, 2007. The average survey lasted just under 14 minutes. The margin of error for a survey of this size has a +/-4.0 percent margin of error, at the 95 percent level of confidence.

For detailed survey results, including direct comments from survey respondents, visit www.codeblue.org

Green Buzz PR, LLC

Green Buzz PR, LLC

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