[Over 2200 individuals and nearly 50 organizations signed-on to this letter from Gov. Kitzhaber. The letter was received by President Obama on February 4th, 2009. Below the letter is a list of the organizations that co-signed this letter.]
Dear President Obama,
It is increasingly clear that simply trying to get all Americans access to health insurance will not result in better health for Americans or reasonable health care costs. Without simultaneously having a public debate about what we are buying with our health care dollars and how the delivery system is structured, we will not solve the nation’s health care crisis.
Given the turmoil in our financial markets, we can no longer afford a system that gives us only a small return on investment in terms of population health for an annual expenditure of over $2.3 trillion in health care. People all around this nation are looking for political leadership which will squarely confront the real issue involved here: that we cannot control rising health care costs unless we fundamentally shift our goal from financing health care to improving the health of the American people. And unless we can change our current fiscal trajectory (driven by the aging of the Baby Boom Generation) we will face a national debt of staggering proportions and an ever-increasing portion of the federal budget will be consumed by the entitlement programs.
Not only does this pose a serious threat to the fiscal stability of our nation, but the costs involved will make it difficult to invest in our other pressing national priorities, such as renewable energy research and development, and the other transitional investments necessary to move to a post-fossil-fuel economy. There is not a simple solution to this problem, but there is a solution – as long as we have made the right diagnosis.
Universal coverage is important, but unless that coverage results in better health and comes at a cost that does not bankrupt the nation, we will not have fulfilled our obligation to the future. We can do better. We are here to help.
We invite you to Oregon where we have spent the past three years in exactly the type of engagement that you are now asking all Americans to embark upon. We have held town hall gatherings, community forums, house parties and chapter meetings in people’s homes, coffee shops and community centers. We passed legislation in 2007, leading to a year-long dialogue with legislators, policy makers and key stakeholders. We know what we want in a health system.
People in Oregon, and all across this nation, are willing to do the hard work, and to discuss the necessary tradeoffs, because we believe in America’s ability to find innovative solutions to its most difficult problems. We look forward to meeting with you in Oregon and to working together to shape this nation’s future.
John A. Kitzhaber, M.D.
Oregon Governor, 1995-2003
Founder, The Archimedes Movement
www.WeCanDoBetter.org
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The Archimedes Movement, founded in 2006, created a new forum for civic engagement around the complex social issues facing our communities and the nation. To date, more than 5,000 people from Oregon, Washington and several other states have participated in dialogue resulting in a framework for reform and clear articulation of the objectives for a new health system.
Here are the organizations that co-signed this letter.
AARP Oregon
Acumentra Health
American Health Care Appraisal LLC
Amity Vineyards
Aligned Management Associates, Inc
Ashland Pediatrics, PC
Bambu Clinic
Beaverton Medical Clinic
CareOregon
Cascade AIDS Project
Children First for Oregon
Doug Stamm, Meyer Memorial Trust
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics
Health Care for All – Oregon
HealthMatters of Central Oregon
Interfaith Alliance of NW Oregon
Jubitz Family Foundation
Lane Independent Physician Association
League of Women Voters of Oregon
MacDonald & Associates
McKenzie Pediatrics
Medicaid Advisory Committee
Metropolitan Alliance for the Common Good
NAMI Oregon (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
National College of Natural Medicine
Northeast Oregon Network (NEON)
Northwest Health Foundation
Northwest Internal Medicine Consultants
Oregon Academy of Family Physicians
Oregon Action
Oregon Alliance for Retired Americans
Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
Oregon Chapter of the Physicians for National Health Insurance
Oregon Center for Christian Values
Oregon College of Oriental Medicine
Oregon Dental Association
Oregon Developmental Disabilities Coalition
Oregon Holistic Nurses Association
Oregon Medical Association
Oregon Nurses Association
Oregon PeaceWorks
Oregon Pediatric Society
Oregon Primary Care Association
Oregon School-Based Health Care Network
PeaceHealth Oregon Region
Sammamish Diabetes and Lipid Clinic, PLLC
Sisters of the Road, Inc.
The Foundation for Medical Excellence
Trillium Family Services
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