Name: CVS Health CEO Believes that Changes to Obamacare Could Lead to “Unintended Consequences”
Uploaded: 2017-10-25
Duration: 4 min 51 s
Description: Larry Merlo discusses the company’s role in the murky future of privatized healthcare.

Larry every one is talking these days about the future of defordable care act. I like to get your take on, what you think of President Trump's recent proposals to change it up .>> Our folks are kinda pouring through all that to understand, if he does this, what are the unattended consequences that that creates, and. I would say the early returns are, it's not complete enough. It's not far- reaching enough to deal with the challenges that are in front of us. And what are the subjects of cost, the president says, his Executive Orders will get low prices for great care. But, the experts are saying they are actually going to make it more expensive for people who are really sick. What do you say about that? Yes, I think that's what we have to understand. I think that that's what I was eluding to in terms of if you do this okay, where this, you squeeze the balloon here, the balloon expands here. Those are all the things that we're working to understand. Do you think that Americans would be better off with keeping what the so called Obama Care just as it is even with its flaws? Would you favor that? I think it kinda goes back to that cost quality access equation that where can we check the box and say this is working. And where can we say, can't check the box here, we've got some problems. And I think it would be great if we could acknowledge, here's where we've had success, here's where our focus needs to be. Because at the end. The ultimate goal is, where we started, how do we provide access to affordable care for all Americans. I think it's gonna take that type of effort to get there. Is it just a matter of time that we are going to embrace something like what Bernie Sanders is saying? Medicare for all or a single payer system? What do you think of that? Is that where we're headed? Suzy, it's hard for me to say that and I think that the role of the private sector and the role of private sector competition and innovation is a hallmark of our country. I would be very concerned and I do believe that There is a reality that the government values and recognizes the role that the private sector plays. I think in a single- payer system that's defined by the government defining not just its requirements but managing healthcare, I don't believe would be good for our society or good for the country. So as a CEO of a health care company, what would you like to see at the end of the day in terms of the future of the american health care system? Yeah, we're beginning to introduce what I'll refer to is more consumers [ INAUDIBLE ] health care and you know, and I think that concept is very new for Americans and And I think our first priority is, we've gotta close that educational gap that exists around, I'll call it healthcare IQ or healthcare literacy. And, provide consumers the tools so that they can make informed decisions because, we're pushing the accountability there but The education and the tools to make those educated decisions, we're not in sync yet. Well it's a whole new vocabulary in healthcare for the consumer to understand. How long is it gonna take for them to learn that vocabulary and then learn to advocate for themselves to get the consumerism and will that really reduce cost? Suzy, I do believe it will reduce cost and I think that there's a lot today that I believe as the consumer understands it better. They're going to demand it they're going to demand the things that they don't realize that they need yet, okay and. I think we're working hard to begin to, being bring that to them, okay and you know to help close those gaps .>> So Larry, looking ahead next year at this time, what would you be saying about the affordable care act, Obama care, is it going to be a whole new plan? Is it gonna be the same thing or just some variation on the theme? I don't think we'll lose the framework that exist. Maybe we'll call it something else, okay? But I do believe that some of the challenges that are in front of us will be address as we sit here 12 months from now. [ BLANK_AUDIO ]

Larry Merlo discusses the company’s role in the murky future of privatized healthcare.