In 2008, the Bipartisan Policy Center launched the Leaders’ Project on the State of American Health Care, an effort to research and negotiate a comprehensive health care reform plan that could win support from both parties. Three former Senate majority leaders – Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, and Bob Dole – did just that and released a plan in 2009. After comprehensive health care reform was signed into law, the Leaders’ Project on the State of American Health Care turned to the next logical step: developing bipartisan solutions to implementation efforts at both the federal and state levels.

The new law faces many challenges – legal, political, organizational and cultural. Yet the status quo remains unacceptable to industry stakeholders and every level of government continues to struggle with the budgetary weight of our health system crisis. Under the leadership of project co-chairs Sheila Burke and Chris Jennings, the BPC focused primarily on state implementation issues and the evolving relationship between federal and state governments. BPC hosted state-based forums, public and private events in Washington, DC and collaborated with affinity groups to develop bipartisan recommendations for improving the quality of health care services, containing health care costs and covering all Americans with affordable health insurance.

The project promoted rational, thoughtful discussion of these issues through workshops and meetings, and it identified the most likely paths forward through issue briefs and memos to the administration. In all cases, the BPC provided the forum that all sides need for the crucial implementation work ahead: a trusted place where the full variety of interests in reform can be aired in civil discussions, free from much of the political and ideological pressures they would face in other settings.

Projects

Insurance Exchanges

BPC worked together with affinity groups to help states develop new marketplaces for individual and small business health insurance.

Delivery System Needs

Reforming our delivery system requires new infrastructure. BPC focused on two areas: the health care professional workforce and health information technology.

Lower Costs

In collaboration with our Debt Reduction Task Force efforts, BPC developed strategies and promote dialogue among stakeholders on how to implement workable health care cost containment efforts.

Next Steps

There are many pressing health care system issues that have not yet been fully discussed. For example, BPC reviewed proposed alternatives to medical malpractice lawsuits and revisit long-term care issues.