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BAUCUS HOLDS HEALTH REFORM SUMMIT FOR CONGRESSIONAL
LEADERS
Senator Paving The Way To Help
Provide Quality, Affordable Health Care For All
(Washington, D.C.) – As part
of his ongoing efforts to lead Congress’ charge in health care reform,
Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus today held a day-long summit for
senators and congressmen, which featured health care experts and breakout groups.
Baucus is chairman of the
powerful Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare,
Medicaid and other national health care programs. Baucus’ Prepare for
Launch: Health Reform Summit 2008, was designed for members of Congress
to put political differences aside, to look at the nation’s current
health care system, to look at the good and the bad and to start working
on common ways to reform it. Baucus compared health care reform to
launching a space shuttle – it takes a lot of preparation and work but if
done right, great things can happen.
“I convened this summit
because Congress must prepare for the work of reforming the healthcare
system. We have to develop common understandings of our current
system — the good and the bad parts — so that we are ready to work on
reform,” Baucus said. “The problems in our health system are
serious. They involve life and death. They are not pleasant to think
about. The solutions will affect each and every one of us."
The
event was filled to capacity and was attended by more than 200 senators,
congressmen, and health advocates.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben
Bernanke was the Summit’s keynote speaker. Baucus’ Summit also featured
T.R. Reid – author, Washington Post Bureau Chief, and FRONTLINE
correspondent for the recent documentary “Sick Around the World,” and Dr.
J. Craig Venter, founder of The Institute for Genomic Research.
The breakout sessions included
an array of topics ranging from looking at international health care to
state-based reform efforts. Baucus’ breakout sessions included:
- Lessons from International Health Systems
- Trends in Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage
- Delivery System Reform – The Need For
Transparency, Payment Reform, and improved Care Coordination
- Approaches to “Bending the Growth Curve” of
Health Care Spending
- Role of Public Programs in Health Reform
- State-Based Reform Efforts
- Best Practices in the Private Sector
“I hope that the dialogue here
today will lay the groundwork for our efforts next year,” Baucus
said. If we design our mission together, and set our course
together, then we will reach the goal of providing affordable, quality
health care to all Americans.”
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