Your Chance To Have Your Say On Healthcare?

the-soap-box1.jpgFor everyone who wants to have their say about healthcare, it looks like some opportunities may be upcoming from the Obama administration.

Those of you who feel passionately about these issues could have an opportunity to speak your mind. What would you say? I’m betting some of you would be able to come well-prepared to speak up — and you should! 

As soon as I get sign-up and other logistical details on this, I’ll certainly post them for everyone. I have a query out on whether these will be open to the public or not.  For now, here’s what I know, from a White House release today:

Building on Thursday’s White House Forum on Health Care Reform, President Obama Announces Series of Regional White House Forums to be Held Across Country

California, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina and Vermont to host regional forums to continue discussion about bringing down health care costs, expanding coverage for all Americans

WASHINGTON, DC – Building on Thursday’s White House Forum on Health Care Reform, President Obama announced a series of Regional White House Forums on Health Reform that will bring the conversation about health care reform directly to communities across the country. In keeping with the Obama administration’s commitment to a transparent, accountable government, the forums will be an opportunity for Americans from all over the country to voice their concerns and ideas about reforming our health care system.

“Health care reform is a fiscal imperative,” President Obama said. “Skyrocketing health care costs are draining our federal budget, undermining our long-term economic prosperity and devastating American families. The time for reform is now and these regional forums are some of the key first steps toward breaking the stalemate we have been stuck in for far too long. The forums will bring together diverse groups of people all over the country who have a stake in reforming our health care system and ask them to put forward their best ideas about how we bring down costs and expand coverage for American families.”

The Regional White House Forums on Health Care Reform will be hosted by the states’ Governors and will include participants ranging from doctors to patients to providers to policy experts. They will be open conversations with everyday Americans, local, state and federal elected officials – both Democrat and Republican — and senior Obama administration officials. The events will begin with a video recorded by the President, a summary of the findings from the Health Care Community Discussions that took place in December, and an overview of the discussion that took place at the White House Forum on Health Reform.

The meetings in California, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina and Vermont will take place in March and early April. Further logistical information about the forums is forthcoming.

 
5 Responses to "Your Chance To Have Your Say On Healthcare?"
Rayne | Friday March 6, 2009 08:36 am 1

Thanks, Christy; somehow managed to miss that there was a meeting scheduled for Michigan. I’ll look into it.


Christy Hardin Smith | Friday March 6, 2009 08:50 am 2
In response to Rayne @ 1

I’ve got queries out on whether these will be open to the public and, if so, how folks can get involved in them. Will let folks know soon as I hear something back.


Christy Hardin Smith | Friday March 6, 2009 08:50 am 3
In response to Rayne @ 1

Rayne, if you get details on the MI one,would you mind posting what you found out here, too? Thanks!


selise | Friday March 6, 2009 10:40 am 4

christy, this whole “discussion” schtick is so frustrating. remember the ones the obama transition team had in december? not to be missed is pnhp’s blog post on them: Report of Health Care Community Discussions

oh and on the “reform summit” yesterday… i’m hearing that single payer was NEVER even mentioned once. can you get some confirmation or denial on that? thanks.


BargainCountertenor | Friday March 6, 2009 02:39 pm 5

Once again, the intermountain region is fly-over country.


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