CompTIA Survey Indicates IT Firms Open to Healthcare Reform, Lowering Costs, "Public Option".But They Remain Ill-at-ease ill-at-ease adj → incómodo ill-at-ease adj → mal à l'aise ill-at-ease adj → a disagio with Many Aspects of the Present Debate WASHINGTON -- IT firms large to small want U.S. healthcare U.S. Healthcare is a now-defunct healthcare company. The logo had an apple. The merger with Aetna In 1996, the company merged with Aetna, calling it Aetna U.S. Healthcare. The U.S. Healthcare apple logo was next to the Aetna name, and U.S. Healthcare under it. U.S. reform, fret about healthcare costs, and generally support the so-called "public option," says a recent CompTIA survey. At the same time, however, the survey reveals an IT industry that appears ill-at-ease with many of the legislative solutions currently proffered, illustrating the true complexity of the healthcare debate now raging rag·ing adj. 1. Very active and unpredicatable; volatile: a raging debate; a raging fire. 2. Remarkable; extraordinary: a raging hit on prime-time TV. on Capitol Capitol, seat of the U.S. Congress Capitol, seat of the U.S. government at Washington, D.C. It is the city's dominating monument, built on an elevated site that was chosen by George Washington in consultation with Major Pierre L'Enfant. Hill, as well as the many competing issues confronting American healthcare consumers today. The data in this report stems from a survey fielded to a random sample of U.S. IT firms. The study was fielded via an online survey form during the period September 14 - 25, 2009. The overall sample size is 392. The survey has a margin of error of plus/minus 5% points. The full survey can be seen here. Key findings - representing the top chosen response from individual questions - show: * 96% of those surveyed follow the healthcare debate, with 66% following it closely * 94% believe that technology will play a key role in reforming the healthcare system * 77% feel healthcare reform should cover pre-existing conditions, allow portability, and prevent loss of insurance due to change in medical status * 76% want to be able to pool the purchasing power Purchasing Power 1. The value of a currency expressed in terms of the amount of goods or services that one unit of money can buy. Purchasing power is important because, all else being equal, inflation decreases the amount of goods or services you'd be able to purchase. 2. of small businesses to lower premiums/get better coverage * 72% want a small business exemption to any "employer mandate," even though 43% generally support such a mandate * 70% think the U.S. should control the growth of healthcare costs * 62% support a "public option" to compete with the private sector to lower costs * 62% think individuals who cannot get healthcare should have access to the "public option" * 59% believe that healthcare reform will lead to higher taxes * 44% feel healthcare reform will lead to "socialized medicine socialized medicine, publicly administered system of national health care. The term is used to describe programs that range from government operation of medical facilities to national health-insurance plans. " * 42% feel the private marketplace doesn't work well and shouldn't be used to expand coverage * 42% think healthcare reform will grow government too large * 42% say healthcare reform will be too costly "Rising healthcare costs have perennially per·en·ni·al adj. 1. Lasting or active through the year or through many years. 2. a. Lasting an indefinitely long time; enduring: perennial happiness. b. topped our members' list of concerns," noted Bob Kramer, Vice President of Public Policy for CompTIA. "It hits their bottom line hard, making it more difficult with each passing year to provide healthcare. Still, approximately 90% of the IT industry provides healthcare coverage to its employees. That's why the present debate means so much. They want reform. They want to hold costs down. They want more options. And they see a Congress very close to deciding on these key matters, which will immediately affect millions of their workers." But, added Kramer, "while some choices like a 'public option' have powerful appeal, companies seem to recognize that reform could have less desirable side-effects, too." In other words Adv. 1. in other words - otherwise stated; "in other words, we are broke" put differently , noted Kramer, "costs avoided up front may not liberate (Liberate Technologies, San Mateo, CA) A software company that specialized in the information appliance field. Formerly Network Computer, Inc. (NCI), a spin-off from Oracle in 1996, it changed its name in 1999. them from other challenges, such as higher taxes and bigger government." "As the survey clearly reveals, even among a somewhat homogenous homogenous - homogeneous group - the IT industry - a wide diversity of opinion exists," said Kramer. "But there does appear a strong consensus that reform is needed and that technology will significantly contribute to that process." About CompTIA CompTIA is the voice of the world's information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure that he/she is qualified to perform a job or task. , and public policy advocacy. For more information, please visit www.comptia.org. |
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