Bipartisan Policy Center Launches New Health Project Led by Former Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle and Bill Frist and Former Governor Ted Strickland

Project will help states develop bipartisan, workable solutions to overcome their health system challenges

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Calling "constructive engagement on health reform vital to our nation's future," the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) today launched its Health Project, led by former Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle and Bill Frist, and former Governor Ted Strickland.  

"We know there remains a great political divide over the future of the health care system, but the need for substantive discussions and cooperation has never been greater," said Senator Daschle.  "An economically sustainable health system is in our collective interest, and I look forward to working with the states to help them lead the way with health reform.  If the states succeed, we as a nation will make significant progress."

The BPC will embark on a comprehensive review of the numerous challenges and opportunities confronting states as they deal with delivery, cost and coverage demands in their health systems.  Through a series of private and public discussions, the BPC will engage state, federal, business and workforce leaders over the next year.

"The emphasis on a strong, active state role is the most significant element of the new health care law, and moving forward we need to continue to create and implement solutions that work for state leaders," said Senator Frist.  "While the law is not perfect, it is now the foundation upon which all future reform will be based.  Working in close coordination with the states, our project will provide support as they make crucial and often difficult health care decisions.  We must face our health care crisis, and I look forward to making real progress on these issues through this substantive and forward-leaning project."

The BPC Health Project is initially focusing on several key areas of concern: insurance exchanges; insurance reforms; and delivery system reforms, including health information technology, the health professional workforce, health care efficiency, and medical malpractice reform.  For each issue area, the BPC will identify and share best practices among the states and host roundtable discussions to facilitate a thoughtful, bipartisan dialogue among stakeholders at the state and federal level and in the industry and marketplace.

"We will be collaborating together to target and highlight a range of solutions, not just one solution, to the many financing and delivery challenges facing the states.  To ensure that we are responsive to and truly understand different state needs, our project will seek input and guidance from a broad group of both Republican and Democratic governors," said Governor Strickland.  "The debate about health care reform is ongoing, but it is my hope that our effort will go beyond the rhetoric and deliver pragmatic, practical approaches that work."

Senators Daschle and Frist and Governor Strickland will lead the project with guidance from health care experts and project co-directors Sheila Burke and Chris Jennings.  The BPC's first health care project culminated in the release of a bipartisan blueprint for health care reform, Crossing Our Lines, by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle and Bob Dole in June 2009.

About the Bipartisan Policy Center:

In 2007, former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell formed the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) to develop and promote solutions that can attract the public support and political momentum to achieve real progress. Currently, the BPC focuses on issues including health care, energy, national and homeland security, transportation, science and economic policy. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.bipartisanpolicy.org/

SOURCE Bipartisan Policy Center