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Reporting from President Obama’s health care summit

Posted by: Ron Pollack on Mar 06, 2009

Yesterday President Obama convened representatives from allsides of the health care debate to discuss comprehensive health care reform. Iwas privileged to participate as a voice for health care consumers, along with bipartisanmembers of Congress; doctors and nurses; people representing hospitals, drugmanufacturers, and health insurance companies; and labor and businessleaders. 

While we don't all share a single vision of health carereform, we are unified in our agreement with PresidentObama's opening comments:

Health care reform is no longer just a moral imperative, it is a fiscal imperative... Our goal will be to enact comprehensive health care reform by the end of this year. That is our commitment. That is our goal.

President Obama noted thediversity of perspectives in the room, but highlighted goals we can agree on:

We can agree that if we want greater accountability and responsibility, we must ensure that people aren't overcharged for prescription drugs, or discriminated against for pre-existing conditions...If you have insurance you like, you'll be able to keep that insurance. If you have a doctor you like, you can keep that doctor. You'll just pay less for the care that you receive.

However, he unequivocally called for change:

The status quo is the one option that is not on the table. And those who seek to block any reform at any cost will not prevail this time around.

 Clearly, there is no room forobstructionists at this table. Throughout the day, groups assembled discussed how, not if, to reform our healthcare system. That's a step in the right direction - but now the hard workreally begins. Stay tuned for ongoing updates as the discussion moves forward.