This kind of stuff shows how Marion Thorpe is both the candidate of conservative values and someone who brings innovative solutions to the table. Both of those qualities make him our best candidate to represent the future of the Republican Party and the heart and soul of America.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2009
CONTACT: THORPE FOR SENATE CAMPAIGN;
YOMIN POSTELNIK, Campaign Manager
PHONE: 954-946-4442
EMAIL: yomin@marionthorpe.com


Dr. Marion Thorpe Launches Statewide Health Care Listening Tour
Florida’s Former Chief Medical Officer and Only Announced Republican Candidate for US Senate Launches Health Care Solutions Tour

Jacksonville, FL – As Chief Medical Officer of the State’s Agency for Health Care Administration, Dr. Marion Thorpe started a quest to force HMOs to provide patients with health promotion and disease prevention treatments. In the end, he successfully convinced the health care industry that doing so was not only necessary for patients to remain healthy, but was also good business.

His message was simple. Embracing healthy living and preventative treatments save costs on far more expensive catastrophic and emergency treatments down the road. Now he wants to offer this solution to the nation.

Having served Gov. Jeb Bush and the people of Florida as CMO and guiding member of the state of Florida’s HMO Report Card Panel and Governor’s Health Information Infrastructure Advisory Board, Dr. Thorpe is running for the United States Senate to fix what he describes as a “national disaster that will limit care for all and likely bankrupt the system.” The cornerstone of his philosophy: If we continue to wait for people to get sick before treating them, the system will soon run out of resources. He also points out that at a time when leaders in both major parties are looking for ways to eliminate wasteful spending, preventing diseases so that far fewer patients need serious long term treatment down the road is about as sensible as one can get.

Marion Thorpe is no stranger to health care reform. When Jeb Bush started the effort to bring Scripps Health Center to Florida, Dr. Thorpe championed this effort and lauded the merits of bringing bio-research and development to Florida.

Last month, as Scripps Health Center finally opened in South Florida, Thorpe was the only candidate for office anywhere in Florida to express dismay concerning current Governor Charlie Crist’s habit of “taking undeserved credit for Scripps.” Says Thorpe, “the fact that the man who brought Scripps to Florida, former Gov. Jeb Bush, was neither applauded nor honored by Gov. Crist at the ribbon cutting was a slap in the face of statesmanship that was uncalled for and that has no place in Florida politics.”

Since then, Dr. Thorpe has begun a listening tour with hospital administrators and health care providers across the State. Last week Thorpe met with medical leaders in Crestview and in Broward County. This week he’s touring Jacksonville in an effort to hammer out the most effective ways to improve health care for all without engaging in wasteful spending or limiting the quality of care.

According to Thorpe, good health care is also essential to Florida’s economy. “So much of our state is reliant on retirees and on senior visitors. One of their main concerns is that Florida can build and sustain good hospitals that provide top-quality, accessible, and affordable medical services. It’s our duty to ensure that such quality of care is maintained. Categorically, clinical excellence and fiscal solvency go hand in hand; therefore, Florida cannot escape the fact that good health care is essential to its economy.”

Dr. Thorpe says that he plans to speak with medical leaders in each of Florida’s 67 counties. He then plans to compile a policy book, something he anticipates completing before the end of the year. This policy book will serve as a comprehensive plan to revamp the health care system, a key aspect of the Thorpe campaign.

Dr. Thorpe invites medical care providers and citizens with concerns regarding Florida’s health care delivery systems to contact his campaign at (954) 946-4442 or to visit his website www.MarionThorpe.com.

Tags: FloridaHealth CareDr Marion Thorpe

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