In contrast to their open-ended responses, when given a list of options a majority of the public (71%) thinks that reducing medical errors should be a “very” important priority for the nation’s health agenda. This ranks in the middle of a list of priorities – above reforming the Medicaid program (54%) and assuring the smooth implementation of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit (53%), but below cost concerns such as “lowering the cost of health insurance” (83%) and prescription drugs (80%) and below “increasing the number of Americans covered by health insurance” (76%).

When asked to choose, just 8% say reducing medical errors should be the MOST important priority for the President and Congress.