Health Care Reform Begins

Apr 17, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) The process of improving the state's health-care system begins today with the first meeting of the Legislature's Health Reform Task Force. Co-chairman Representative Dave Clark says the long road to reform will begin with making health care more affordable.

"When we start talking about managing costs, I hope all of the industry people will stay tuned and offer their solutions," Clark says. "So far they have all said we're willing to take our share of change, and change generally means there's some pain associated with it. Our effort here as legislators is to ensure that's distributed fairly across the system and not unduly to any one particular segment."

Clark says one of the task force's goals is to keep all the stakeholders at the table. That could be tricky during such a long process. Clark estimates it could take 10 years to accomplish lasting reform. But Scott Ideson, president of one of the state's largest insurance companies, Regence Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Utah, says he's in it for the long haul.

"I've been involved in every health reform activity over the last three years, because I really believe personally and our company believes that we have an opportunity - we're part of the problem and we need to be part of the solution," Ideson says. "And so we're there because we're committed to helping to change it so that everyone can have affordable access to care."

The task force starts the reform process this year with six objectives, ranging from optimizing existing state-funded health programs, boosting immunization rates, and encouraging consumers to choose healthier options. The task force co-chairmen, Representative Clark and Senator Sheldon Killpack are taking input from the public about health care issues.

Click here to email Rep. Clark

Click here to e-mail Sen. Killpack.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW