Americans Speak on Health Reform: Report on Health Care Community Discussions

V. Conclusion

President Obama has encouraged all Americans to have a direct say in our health reform efforts, and individuals participating in Health Care Community Discussions rose to this challenge. These Health Care Community Discussions brought together people in all 50 states and the District of Columbia from all walks of life - patients, doctors, business owners, and advocacy groups - who were united around a common concern: the need to reform health care in America. Participants told stories about personal bankruptcies caused by medical bills, Americans without insurance who cannot afford to see a doctor when they are sick, and people winding up in emergency rooms because they have nowhere else to turn. These stories, and thousands of similar ones, affirm the urgency of reforming our health care system. Americans are demanding that we finally address our health care challenges.

These Health Care Community Discussions are the first step in this Administration's commitment to an open and inclusive style of governance that allows all Americans to have a voice in our country's health reform efforts. This Administration recognizes that true reform comes from the grassroots up – and promises that when Americans speak, the Administration will listen. These Health Care Community Discussions reflect the President's commitment to enlist the public in achieving a top priority: creating a health system that is affordable, accessible, and high-quality for all Americans.