August 13, 2008 12:35PM

Sifting Through the Health Care Noise

By Alexis Glick

This morning as you may have noticed I wrote a blog called “Good Prognosis for Health Care” about why I think health care could be the next hot sector. At about 9:30 this morning Genentech, who I talked about earlier, rejected the $89 bid from Roche. Roche currently owns 55.9% of Genentech and has hoped to purchased the remaining amount. Some analysts have speculated as high as $115 for Genentech is reasonable given the current climate and revenue from cancer drugs, including their blockbuster drug Avastin.

Given my new fascination with healthcare, this morning members of both presidential camps joined me to explain how McCain versus Obama’s plans work. First up Dr. David Blumenthal from the Obama camp, then Nancy Pfotenhauer from the McCain camp.

I don’t know about you but these health care plans are confusing. It’s hard to sift through the noise and get to the point. It’s hard to know what figures to believe in and whether either of the proposed plans with help rising costs for individuals, corporations and small business owners. They do, in my estimation, the best job thus far explaining how each plan works. How they fund it, still not sure I fully believe or are comfortable with those answers but I’m sure I’m not in the minority.

Immediately following my interview with the advisers for both campaigns, Jonathan Bush, the Chairman and CEO of Athenahealth, a company that provides technology to healthcare providers and greater technological efficiencies across the board, joined me in studio to analyze the plans, the current state of the healthcare industry, the reason for the increased amount of deals and how his company can help solve the mess that is healthcare in this Country. He was FANTASTIC! He let it all out and held nothing back. I was really impressed! And oh by the way, he’s the President’s cousin and Billy Bush of Access Hollywood’s brother. What a family? Talk about genes?????