A USA Today/Gallup poll, published in USA Today reports that 60% of U.S. adults believe Democrats would work to provide health insurance to the uninsured if they take control of Congress after the midterm elections. According to the poll, 52% of respondents believe Democrats would allow the purchase of prescription medications from abroad and 72% would approve of such a move. In addition, 79% of respondents would approve of efforts to expand health insurance to the uninsured.

In related news, CongressDaily (Lee, CongressDaily, 10/25) reported that Democrats' "first priority ... in their effort" to reduce the number of uninsured residents would be to address funding shortfalls in SCHIP, which is slated for reauthorization next year. Democrats "hope to expand eligibility and increase the number of low and moderate-income children enrolled in the program." In addition, Democrats will look to "correct what [they] consider flaws" in the Medicare prescription drug benefit. A Democratic Congress would address health care information technology legislation that would authorize greater federal funding to help physicians and hospitals purchase new technology.