[Pacg] Iowa Health Care Commission: Principles and Public Meetings

[Carolina 1961]

>From the PACG Health Care Reform forum
Karen Metcalf
*karencadfael at aol.com*
**
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*Iowa** Health Care Reform Principles Approved*



The* *Affordable Health Care Plans for Small Businesses & Families
Commission met last week in Mason City. It voted unanimously to pass eight
principles to guide the discussion. The principles unanimously agreed to by
the commission's Mason City meeting are:



1:  Coverage and care should be universal or near universal.

2:  Coverage should be affordable and take into account all health   care
costs.

3:  Everyone should have a medical home.

4:  Health care should be accessible.

5:  Financing should be a shared responsibility.

6:  Reforms should drive quality improvements and contain costs.

7:  Reforms should do no harm.

8:  Reforms must be sustainable and doable.



View the principles and some further background rationale at Iowa Health
Care Principles<http://www.legis.state.ia.us/lsadocs/IntComHand/2008/IHPAF051.PDF>



Click *Health Care
Commission<http://www.legis.state.ia.us/aspx/Committees/Committee.aspx?id=208>
*to learn more about the work and schedule of the Commission.

* *

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Former Governors Vilsack and Branstad to Host Public Health Care Hearings



Former Iowa Governors Tom Vilsack and Terry Branstad will co-host several
public hearings in September to gather suggestions from Iowans on how to
reform our state's health care system.   The events will occur in Council
Bluffs on September 4, Indianola on September 26 *and in Bettendorf on
September 27.*



"Living up to one of the great moral challenges of our time requires that we
provide quality, affordable, and accessible health care for all of our
citizens," former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack said



"The availability of affordable health care for Iowa small businesses and
families is key to our state's future growth and the wellbeing of our
families," former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad said.



The two former governors are acting in support of the bipartisan
"Legislative Commission on* *Affordable Health Care Plans for Small
Businesses & Families," which was created during the 2007 legislative
session.   The commission's mandate is to build a consensus for a reform
effort to insure more Iowans, make health care affordable, and improve
quality and access.  The commission is made up of 10 legislators and
representatives of medical providers, small businesses, individual
consumers, and the insurance industry.



The public hearings will help gather the concerns and suggestions of Iowans
from all walks of life.  Each public hearing will last two hours.  Those
interested in presenting at one of the meetings may sign up on the premises
beginning one half hour before the event..



Iowans who are unable to attend a hearing can provide testimony via the
Internet by visiting the  Commission's Web site at www.legis.state.ia.us and
clicking on "Health Care Survey" or by mailing written comments to the Iowa
Legislative Services Agency, Ground Floor, State Capitol Building, Des
Moines, Iowa 50319, Attn:  Health Care Commission Public Hearings.



The first meeting will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at Iowa
Western Community College's Looft Hall, 2700 College Road, Council Bluffs.



Additional meetings will take place in Indianola on Sept. 26 and Bettendorf
on Sept. 27.  For further details, visit www.legis.state.ia.us   and click
on "Legislative Commission on Affordable Health Care" or call the
Legislative Information Office at 515-281-5129.
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