Role Of States In Reforming Health Care Discussed At National Governors Association Meeting In Philadelphia

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance;  Public Health
Article Date: 15 Jul 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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The role of states in reforming health care, among other topics, was discussed Saturday at the National Governors Association meeting in Philadelphia, the Washington Post reports.

Former president Bill Clinton opened the meeting -- which included more than 50 current and former governors -- by urging governors to make their states "laboratories of democracy" and take small but effective steps to deal with problems such as childhood obesity. The meeting also included a "vigorous dialogue and substantial disagreement" over several topics, including whether health care can be reformed via states' efforts.

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt, a former NGA chair, said if the federal government sets health care standards for practice and gives states deadlines, states can and "will solve this problem." Former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis (D), speaking on whether states can effectively reform health care, said, "It isn't going to happen." Dukakis called the Massachusetts universal health care bill he signed a failure, according to the Post. He recommended expanding Medicare to the entire population.

Former Washington state Gov. Dan Evans (R), after listening to several governors' proposed health care policies, said, "The two presidential candidates should have been here to listen, not to talk," (Balz, Washington Post, 7/13).

C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" on Saturday included an interview with former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson to discuss health care issues and the impact they will have on the presidential 2008 election ("Washington Journal," C-SPAN, 7/12).

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