Daschle to get Health and Human Services nod from Obama
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By Michael Dorausch, DC Former Senator Tom Daschle will be announced Thursday as President-elect Barack Obama's nominee to head up the Department of Health and Human Services, according to Democratic sources. It has been previously reported that the former US South Dakota Senator would be Obama's choice, but an announcement date had not been set. Daschle has reportedly stated he is excited about the possibility of serving a role in health care leadership, assisting Obama's efforts to change the nation's health-care system. Chiropractors that remember Senate bill 614 and HR 3447 are likely excited as well.  (photo: Former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle speaks with Barack Obama in preparation for a Center for American Progress Action Fund event.)
Chiropractors that have been around since before the 1990s know that Tom Daschle is no stranger to the benefits of chiropractic health care. In March of 1991 it was Daschle that introduced legislation that would provide further reimbursement for chiropractic services under the Medicare plan. On March 12, 1991, South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle gave a speech in the 1st session on the Senate floor of the 102nd Congress. During his speech Daschle stated "I grew up in a community where chiropractors perform a valuable service by providing an alternative to allopathic medicine. The nearly 200 chiropractors in South Dakota serve the state well. In rural states like mine, chiropractors are often an essential source of health care delivery. Sometimes they are the only health providers in a community. In rural states across the country the chiropractic profession plays an integral role in the health care system." It is as if he could have written this statement yesterday, but it was also part of his speech given in March of 1991... "At a time when soaring health care costs are threatening both the quality and the economic stability of our national health care delivery system, the cost savings potential of conservative, non-hospital based chiropractic care should be fully explored." In January 2002, President George W. Bush signed legislation mandating the establishment of chiropractic benefits the Department of Veterans Affairs health-care system. The measure was championed by a strong bipartisan coalition led by Tom Daschle. Tom Daschle is part of the health-care advisory group for Obama's transition team and he reportedly plans to write the health-care plan that Obama will be submitting to Congress next year. According to Daschle, reforming health care in the United States must be a priority in the current economic climate.
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