Sebelius praises national partnership’s call for health care reform
Partnership led by Wal-Mart, AT&T, SEIU, sets out principles for change

The crisis in America’s health care system, in addition to spurring action at the state level, has brought together a national partnership of businesses, workers and policymakers to today call for a “New American Health Care System by 2012.”

Governor Kathleen Sebelius praised the dialogue, which is being led by Wal-Mart and Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the largest corporation and the largest health care union in North America, respectively.

“The fact that business and labor have come together to issue a united call for change is remarkable, and it adds great momentum to the drive to reform our health care system,” said Sebelius.  “There is broad recognition that our current health care system is broken and widespread agreement that it will take cooperation between businesses, workers, providers, and government to fix it. Many governors are already working toward this goal -- making sure that families have affordable coverage -- and are hopeful this joint effort, endorsed by business and labor, will prompt federal action quickly.”

Sebelius has made health care reform a centerpiece of her administration.  Her Health Care Cost Containment Commission is working with businesses and providers on ways to reduce the administrative overhead that eats up 30 cents of every health care dollar, while she has also proposed solutions to the problem of the uninsured, such as coverage of children from birth to age five.

“When a third of every health care dollar goes to paperwork, and another 16 cents goes to pay for care for those without insurance, there isn’t much left for actual health care.  If we can reduce overhead costs and eliminate the hidden tax that results from uncompensated care, that will go a long way toward achieving our goal of universal coverage,” said Sebelius.

In addition to Wal-Mart and the SEIU, the founding members of the partnership are AT&T; Intel; Kelly Services, Inc.; the Communications Workers of America; the Center for American Progress; the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy; and the Committee for Economic Development.

In a Washington, DC, news conference today, the partnership set out four “Common Sense Principles for Achieving a New American Health Care System by 2012”:

1. We believe every person in America must have quality, affordable health insurance coverage. 
2. We believe individuals have a responsibility to maintain and protect their health. 
3. We believe that America must dramatically improve the value it receives for every health care dollar. 

We believe that businesses, governments, and individuals all should contribute to managing and financing a new American health care system.

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