White House Forums on Health Reform

On March 5, President Obama hosted a White House Forum on Health Reform at the White House. Working with Democratic and Republican Governors across the country, the White House has put together five White House Regional Forums on Health Reform. The forums bring together Americans across the region, key health care stakeholders, and elected officials from both sides of the aisle to discuss what must be done to change our health care system. The first three forums were held in Michigan, Vermont, and Iowa.

White House Regional Forums on Health Reform

California

On Monday, April 6th, California hosted the fifth Regional White House Forum on Health Reform. The event was moderated by Governors Schwarzenegger and Gregoire and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, Melody Barnes. Doctors, nurses, health care advocates, and everyday Americans discussed the need for health reform this year.

One San Diego participant poignantly told of the difficulty his family had paying for health care. He said, “…that in the United States, I know I have a right to an education, and if I get in trouble with the law, I have the right to an attorney. So why, if I get sick, do I not have the right to have health insurance?” Dr. Alice Chen, a doctor specializing in internal and hospital medicine at UCLA, also spoke at the forum. She hosted one of the over 350 community discussions that took place in California and Washington State over the holidays this past year. She told a story about a man she met who lost his insurance because he couldn’t afford it, who later died because he had difficulty getting in to see a doctor. By the time she met him in the hospital, he was too sick to walk. Dr. Chen stated, "It's time for us to make things right, no matter what it takes. And what makes me hopeful is that every one of us has a voice, and we are using our voices and speaking up in unprecedented numbers."

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North Carolina

On Tuesday, March 31, 2009 North Carolina hosted the fourth in a series of five White House Regional Forums on Health Reform. Governor Bev Perdue was joined by the Director of the White House Office of Health Reform, Nancy-Ann DeParle, for a morning discussion on health reform. North Carolinians from around the state met at North Carolina A&T State University for a town hall discussion on how to control rising health care costs and provide high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. In a taped video message, President Obama reiterated that “health reform cannot wait another year.”

These forums, which have now taken place in Michigan, Vermont, Iowa, and North Carolina, are a crucial part of the President’s effort to seek input on health reform from business and labor, doctors and insurers, Democrats and Republicans, and Americans from across the country as he works with Congress to enact comprehensive health reform this year. In the spirit of the March Madness basketball tournament, Nancy-Ann emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation using a basketball analogy. Just as Duke and North Carolina fans in her family are able to set aside past differences, Nancy-Ann urged all parties to work together to pass health reform this year.

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Iowa

On Tuesday, March 23rd the Hawkeye state hosted the third of five White House Regional Forums on Health Reform. The event was co-moderated by Iowa Governor Chet Culver, South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds, Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, and Director of the White House Office of Health Reform, Nancy-Ann DeParle. Approximately 500 people gathered from across Iowa and South Dakota to attend the event in Des Moines. As part of his opening remarks Governor Culver deemed health reform “a national challenge.”

In attendance was Darlyne Neff, a 75-year old retired school teacher and cancer survivor from Iowa City. In her opening remarks she stressed the need for reform saying, “Basic care should be available for everyone in America today.” Acknowledging the urgency of the situation, Senator Harkin laid out a tentative timeline for health reform. He said the President is pushing Congress to complete work on the effort by the August recess so he can enact health reform by September or October. "We are not going to kick the ball down the field," he said. "This is going to happen this year."

By all accounts the event was deemed a success. During closing remarks, Nancy-Ann DeParle said “I have a lot to be optimistic about as I go back to the White house.”

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Vermont

On Tuesday, March 17^th Vermont hosted the second of five White House Regional Forums on Health Reform. The event was co-moderated by Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and Director of the White House Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle. President Obama has called for these regional events as a way to seek input from Americans across the country on how to reform our health care system. The President has called these meetings a “first step” on the road to health care reform. In an effort to make the health reform process open and transparent, the Obama Administration has invited everyday Americans to participate in these forums by attending or submitting questions.

Cynthia Loesch, a 23-year old from Dorchester Massachusetts, hosted a Health Care Community Discussion in December. Speaking on behalf of her group, Cynthia said “we found ourselves complaining about healthcare daily and wanting to do something more about it. Like many in this room, we are committed to working towards a system that works for us and I am grateful to finally be able to take part in that with the support of our President.”

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Michigan

On Thursday, March 12^th the White House hosted the first in a series of five White House Regional Forums on Health Reform in Dearborn Michigan. The first event was co-moderated by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and the White House Director of Domestic Policy, Melody Barnes. "We are the state that is the hardest hit by this economy," Granholm said. "It's a privilege to be in the first place where this is being housed."

The town-hall style discussion focused on the need for health reform as being essential for our economic recovery. The audience of 400 included doctors, nurses, small-business owners, automotive representatives, and everyday Americans. Joyce Shilakes, a social worker from Romeo, Michigan said that on a daily basis she sees clients being “forced to choose between buying the expensive medications they need or paying for the basic needs of survival such as food, shelter and gas for themselves and their families.” The high cost of care was a theme throughout the discussion. In closing remarks Melody Barnes underscored the urgency of the situation saying, “we can't afford not to reform our health care system now."

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