The Health Care Reform Journey Continues

CAHU worked hard to help Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata fashion responsible, workable comprehensive health care reform. Several of our ideas found their way into the compromise reform package, Assembly Bill X1-1.

Unfortunately, there were many elements of the legislation we couldn't support. We communicated those concerns to the negotiators. While additional changes were made, too many problems still remained. Interestingly, a number of the concerns we raised were also cited by the non-partisan Legislative Analyst's Office pivotal study of ABX1-1.

CAHU's role in the health care reform debate was right and appropriate for our members and clients. We shared our expertise and perspective. Through Operation Drumbeat we generated over 100,000 emails and letters to lawmakers expressing our concerns and, when appropriate, applauding progress. We testified before both the Assembly and the Senate Health Committees. We were, in short, good citizens.

While we should be pleased flawed legislation did not become law, we also need to remain engaged and active in the legislative process. And we need to remain committed to achieving health care reform.

While the current health care system works extremely well for millions of Californians, there are serious problems with the status quo that need to be addressed. The demise of ABX1-1 increases pressure on lawmakers to do something to fix these problems. Our job is to help them do the right things to fix these problems.

We also need to stay involved because our perspective matters. We occupy a unique position between consumers and carriers. We have an obligation to share that perspective with lawmakers.

Most importantly, we need to stay involved because, as an organization and as individual insurance professionals, we share a desire to make California's health care system the best it can possibly be. Which means never being satisifed with the status quo, but always seeking ways to make the system better.

So thank you to those who participated in Operation Drumbeat, who spoke to friends, family and clients about health care reform, who wrote letters to the editors or to legislators, who participated in the various CAHU committees engaged in the year long debate.

And thank you to those who will give of your time, energy and resources to continue the journey towards a better health care system in the months and years ahead.