Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease

1. Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease A presentation on findings from a nationwide survey of 1,500 likely voters nationwide October 2008 Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

2. Methodology Lake Research Partners and Voter/Consumer Research designed and administered this survey, which was conducted by phone using professional interviewers. The survey reached a total of 1,500 likely voters nationwide. The survey was conducted from October 5-9, 2008. Telephone numbers were drawn from a listed random digit dialing (RDD) sample. Data were weighted slightly by gender, race, party identification, age, and region to reflect the attributes of this universe. The margin of error for the full sample is +/-2.5%. Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

3. Key Findings Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

4. Key Findings • While the economy is the top presidential voting issue, health care is the top issue of personal concern to voters today. • Additionally, health care is a significant voting issue in the upcoming presidential elections. Women, including independent women, have been particularly focused on health care as a voting issue and now men have followed. • Voters have an enormous degree of familiarity with chronic disease and the majority feel these diseases are preventable. • Voters feel the issue of chronic disease is being largely ignored by people running for office. • Surprisingly, treating and preventing chronic disease have moved to the top of voters’ health care agenda. Voters identify catching and treating chronic disease and preventive care as top methods of improving health care, ahead of other ideas like investing in medical technology and equipment, making medical records electronic instead of paper files, and limiting medical malpractice lawsuits. • A strong majority of voters say earlier prevention and better control of chronic disease is a major priority for health care reform. Women express particular intensity. Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

5. The economy is the top voting issue in this year’s presidential election. Health care comes in second. Now I am going to read you a list of concerns that some people have mentioned. Please tell me which one of these will be MOST important to you personally in the upcoming presidential election. Please tell me which one of these will be SECOND most important to you personally in the upcoming presidential election. Percent Saying Most or Second Most Important Voting Issue Men and women rank the issues similarly. Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

6. Health care is the top personal concern to voters – even ahead of jobs and the rising costs of consumer goods. Now I’m going to read you some problems you and your family may face. Please listen carefully, then tell me which ONE of these you personally worry the most about? Now from the same list, please tell me which ONE of these you personally worry about second most? Additional concerns: government assistance (3% top/second concern), credit card debt (3%), nursing home care (1%). Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

7. Men and women rank the issues similarly. Percent Saying Top or Second Concern Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

8. Increasing premiums and co-pays tops the list of health care worries. And thinking specifically about health care, what are you personally worried about the MOST? And what are you personally worried about the SECOND most? Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

9. Men and women rank the issues similarly. Percent Saying Worried about Most or Second Most Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

10. Men are more likely to pick health care costs as the one thing they would improve, over health care quality or access. Women are more divided between costs and access. f you could do something to improve just one of these, which would it be (RANDOMIZE) _Do something to improve the QUALITY of health care so people receive better care _Do something to improve the COST of health care, making it more affordable _Do something about ACCESS to care, so more people have insurance and get the care they need Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

11. Nearly two thirds of voters say they favor providing access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans even if it means a major role for the federal government or a tax increase. Do you favor or oppose providing access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans even if it means a major role for the federal government? Do you favor or oppose providing access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans even if it means raising your taxes? Even if it means a major role for the federal government Even if it means raising your taxes Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

12. The majority of voters say health care will be one of their top voting issues this year. Women place greater importance on health care as a voting issue – 62 percent of women to 54 percent of men say this is the major issue or one of the major issues. Please tell me how important health care is to you personally in voting in this year's presidential election. Is health care the major issue you will be voting on, one of the major issues, somewhat of an issue, not really an issue, or not at all an issue you will be voting on? Among independent women: 65% say this is the major issue or one of the major issues. Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

13. When asked to consider specific measures to improve health care, voters place catching and treating chronic disease at the top. I’m going to read you some things that are being discussed to improve health care. For each one, please tell me if it would improve health care in America a lot, somewhat, a little, or not much at all. Catch and treat chronic disease Improve preventive care for people at high risk of chronic disease Make health care insurance portable Go after fraud in Medicare and Medicaid Create walk-in care facilities that provide low cost care Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

14. Voters also express strong intensity around encouraging prevention and healthier lifestyles. I’m going to read you some things that are being discussed to improve health care. For each one, please tell me if it would improve health care in America a lot, somewhat, a little, or not much at all. Encourage prevention and healthier lifestyles Develop an affordable long-term care system Let small businesses pool together to purchase health insurance Lower hospital charges Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

15. Majorities support each of the proposals tested. Percent Saying “A lot” (Percent saying “A lot/some”) • Prevent racial/gender disparities in treatment, insurance, and diagnosis • Prevent denial of coverage for preexisting conditions • Streamline the paperwork doctors and hospitals complete • Limit insurance company profits • Lower co-payments • Better fund programs to provide care to low income families • Lower doctor visit charge • Work to cover the uninsured • Invest in medical technology and equipment • Make medical records electronic instead of paper files • Limit medical malpractice lawsuits 53% (81%) 52% (80%) 51% (80%) 50% (75%) 50% (78%) 49% (85%) 49% (79%) 47% (79%) 46% (80%) 44% (72%) 41% (71%) Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

16. A majority of six in ten voters say that people running for office only address chronic disease a little or not at all. Has the issue of chronic disease been addressed by people running for office a lot, some, not very much, or not at all? Total Men Women Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

17. Voters have an enormous degree of familiarity with chronic disease and the majority feel these diseases are preventable. Are you familiar with what are defined as chronic diseases or are you not familiar with this term? Do you know someone who has a chronic diseases or do you have one yourself? 62 percent of voters believe chronic disease is preventable Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

18. Three quarters of voters overall say earlier prevention and better control of chronic disease is a major priority for health care reform. Women voice somewhat more intensity. Chronic diseases are diseases that are long-lasting or reoccur, like Diabetes, Asthma, Heart Disease, Cancer, and High Blood Pressure. Thinking about Chronic Disease, do you think that earlier prevention and better control of chronic disease is the top priority for health care reform, one of the top priorities, somewhat of a priority, not really a priority, or not a priority at all? Among voters overall, 74 percent say earlier prevention and better control of chronic disease is a top priority (41 percent the top priority, 33 percent one of the top priorities). Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

19. Voters believe early diagnosis and treatment and an emphasis on prevention are the best ways to prevent and reduce Chronic Disease. Of the following, which do you think is the best ONE for preventing and reducing Chronic Disease? Of this same list, what is the next best way to prevent and reduce Chronic Disease? Percent Saying Best of Second Best Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research

20. Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease A presentation on findings from a nationwide survey of 1,500 likely voters nationwide October 2008 Lake Research Partners * Voter/Consumer Research