Today, President Obama announced that he has secured the commitment of key industry groups--including the American Medical Association, America's Health Insurance Plans, the American Hospital Association, the Advanced Medical Technology Association, the Service Employees International Union, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (of which GSK is a member)--to do their part to rein in the growth of healthcare costs.
In a joint letter to the President, the groups pledged to offer concrete initiatives aimed at transforming our healthcare system:
We are determined to work together to provide quality, affordable coverage and access for every American. It is critical, however, that health reform also enhance quality, improve the overall health of the population, and reduce cost growth. We believe that the proper approach to achieve and sustain reduced cost growth is one that will: improve the population's health; continuously improve quality; encourage the advancement of medical treatments, approaches, and science; streamline administration; and encourage efficient care delivery based on evidence and best practice.
What struck me this morning as I heard the news that all of these groups would be joining the President at the White House today, was that even just a few years ago this meeting might never have happened. But today, these groups--and the President(!)--together talked about their commitment to improving outcomes while managing overall spending, and the importance of preventive efforts, better management of chronic diseases, and continued medical advancement.
Reforming our broken healthcare system is a huge undertaking, and it will require a collaborative effort from everyone involved--private sector, public sector, academia. As the President said "It's the kind of broad coalition--everybody with a seat at the table--that I talked about during the campaign, that is required to achieve meaningful healthcare reform, and that is the kind of coalition to which I am committed."
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