Oregon Business Association

March 27, 2008

Kitzhaber, Barney Speight and OBA on Health Care

Former Governor John Kitzhaber kicked off OBA's most recent Board meeting with a challenge reminiscent of John F. Kennedy.  "If you do not take the lead on health care reform - who will - you should."

Gov. Kitzhaber’s presentation titled Health Care Reform for the 21st Century focused on comprehensive review of the current health care system.  He urged OBA to build the political will and sense of urgency required to begin implementing reforms.  Kitzhaber is the Chair on Health Care Policy with The Foundation for Medical Excellence.  He is also the founder of the Archimedes Movement which he organized with the goal of developing a shared vision of a new health system and building a wave of political and business support for that vision.

Barney Speight, the Director of the Oregon Health Fund Board, began his presentation by addressing some of the specific problems of the current health system.  He referenced a study by the Oregon Office of Health Policy & Research stating that, “almost 1/3 of U.S. health care expenditures goes to care that is duplicative, fails to improve patient health, or may even make it worse.”  He described U.S. health care as being among the most expensive, yet often providing outcomes that do not meet world standards.

Speight outlined the goals of the OHFB as setting a course to provide access to quality health care to all Oregonians with an emphasis on efficiency and cost containment.  Without cost containment, no health care reforms will be sustainable.

OBA, through the efforts of its Health Policy Committee, will continue to work with our members and the Oregon Health Fund Board to seek quality health care that is affordable, accessible and sustainable.

The Archimedes Movement, the Oregon Health Fund Board and OBA are seeking, not just the goal of better care, but better health for all Oregonians.