What impact have public opinion polls had on recent medical news stories?

Health care in the United States is always in the news. Rising costs, uneven quality and limited access are the essence of one incumbent after another. And beyond these core issues, stories about fraud and abuse, drug and device recalls, and medical negligence appear on the front pages almost as often. Numerous surveys have been conducted to better understand public opinion about the government's role in providing access to health care.

The results of these surveys indicate that the majority of the population (60 percent) consistently supports the idea that the federal government has a responsibility to ensure that people have access to health care.