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The Cato Institute Presents
Health Care University:
Which Reforms Are Better – or Worse –
than Doing Nothing?
Four Cato Institute luncheon seminars on the Hill

Featuring Michael F. Cannon, Director, Health Policy Studies, and coauthor of
Healthy Competition: What's Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It

April 14–17, 2009
12:00 p.m. (Lunch included)

Tuesday, April 14

Line in the Sand #1: No Public Plan

Rayburn B-369

President Obama and others on the Left have proposed a public plan—modeled on Medicare—to compete with private insurers. But Medicare is not the solution; it is the problem. Besides, there’s no true competition if one of the players is also the referee. This session will explain why any package of reforms including “Medicare for More” deserves defeat.



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Wednesday, April 15

Line in the Sand #2: No Mandates

Rayburn B-369

Both individual and employer mandates are a mainstay of many Democratic plans. However, you cannot improve a bad product by forcing people to buy it. This session will look at how mandates would drive up costs, drive down quality, oust millions of Americans from their current health plans, and provide a back-door way for government to take over health care.



ipodDownload a Podcast of the Event (MP3)
ppt Download the Event Presentation (PPT)

Thursday, April 16

Line in the Sand #3: No Price Controls

Rayburn B-369

Many on the Left argue that, despite a long history of failure, price controls are the way to make health care and health insurance affordable. This session will explain how expanding price controls will make health care scarce and less secure.



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ppt Download the Event Presentation (PPT)

Friday, April 17

Yes, Mr. President: Markets Can Fix Health Care

Rayburn B-369

At his White House summit on health care reform, President Obama said, “If there is a way of getting this done where we're driving down costs and people are getting health insurance at an affordable rate, and have choice of doctor, have flexibility in terms of their plans, and we could do that entirely through the market, I'd be happy to do it that way.” This session will explain that not only can the market deliver what the president seeks, it is the only thing that can.



ipodDownload a Podcast of the Event (MP3)

Registration for this event is now closed.

Cato Institute luncheon seminars on the Hill are free of charge. Registration for each seminar closes 24 hours in advance. Please arrive early. Seating is limited and not guaranteed. News media inquiries only (no registrations), please call (202) 789-5200.

* We recommend attending all four sessions, but you are welcome to register for as many or as few sessions as you wish.

I'd like to register for the following seminar(s) in Cato Institute's Health Care University:
Tuesday, April 14: "Line in the Sand #1: No Public Plan" (Registration closed.)
Wednesday, April 15: "Line in the Sand #2: No Mandates" (Registration closed.)
Thursday, April 16: "Line in the Sand #3: No Price Controls" (Registration closed.)
Friday, April 17 : "Yes, Mr. President: Markets Can Fix Health Care" (Registration closed.)