Watch video from the Initiative launch!

WASHINGTON—Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas officially kicked off his yearlong National Governors Association (NGA) Chair's initiative, Rx for Health Reform: Affordable, Accessible, Accountable, at the National Press Club today. In his remarks, he also offered some initial reactions to the recently released Senate Finance Committee proposal.

Douglas’s initiative focuses on the critical need for health reform to reduce health care costs, ensure Americans get the highest quality of care and increase coverage for those who lack health insurance.

“We must work together to implement more cost-effective and efficient health care strategies to improve the delivery of care,” said Gov. Douglas. “States continue to show leadership and innovation in improving the way health care is delivered. Governors will have a critical role in implementing the broad policies set by Congress. It will take much preparation and potential restructuring on the part of governors, but we will step up to fulfill the promises of reform.”

Douglas also addressed the critical role states will play in implementing any reforms. He made positive comments about the insurance provisions and exchanges. He also complimented the Senate Finance Committee for the substantial changes made in Medicaid, but continued to express concerns about increasing the costs to states.

“Coverage without significant improvements to the health care delivery system and efforts to lower health care costs will eventually cause further strain on an unsustainable system,” Gov. Douglas said. “True reform cannot be done on the backs of the states, nor can it be done without the states.” 

With the nation spending almost $7,500 per person for health services each year, Rx for Health Reform emphasizes the urgent need to make health care in the United States more affordable, more accessible and more accountable. While there is broad consensus on the need to reform health care in this county, achieving it will require teamwork, compromise and a willingness to address the tough issues surrounding health care. Gov. Douglas’s initiative will help governors as they make critical decisions about health reforms.

To address key challenges, Rx for Health Reform will:

• Provide governors with the information they need to transition to a new health care system;
  
  
• Develop state-based system improvements and cost containment measures; and
  
  
• Prepare states for implementation, such as insurance market reforms, state exchanges and other national health reforms.

At the conclusion of the event, Gov. Douglas unveiled the Rx for Health Reform Web site. The site will serve as a clearinghouse for all initiative news, activities and published materials.

For additional information on Rx for Health Reform, visit www.nga.org/ci. To view the speech text, click here.

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Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association (NGA) is the collective voice of the nation’s governors and one of Washington, D.C.’s, most respected public policy organizations. Its members are the governors of the 50 states, three territories and two commonwealths. NGA provides governors and their senior staff members with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key federal issues to developing and implementing innovative solutions to public policy challenges through the NGA Center for Best Practices. For more information, visit www.nga.org.