Robert K. Ross: Now isn't time to quit on health care

With the end of 2007 just days away, and with the Legislature in the third month of a special session, California is approaching the end of overtime in this "year of health care reform."

By all accounts our policymakers have been working furiously to find common ground. But the recent revelation of a looming $14 billion budget deficit has slowed things down at the goal line. Now is not the time to walk away from the playing field. In fact, an economic downturn that could leave even more Californians without insurance should be a driving force for our governor and the Legislature.

In many respects, health care is similar to the "big game," the Super Bowl or World Series, even your child's playoff game, in terms of significance. Some teams wait decades to go to the finals, and in the case of health care reform, Californians have waited 20 years for the opportunity to get in the game and make serious headway in fixing our health care system. And as any coach will tell you, as the overtime period begins to wind down, one cannot afford to let the clock run out. Take advantage of the opportunities to close out and win the game. That's sage advice for our legislators when it comes to health care reform. There is simply too much at stake. Consider that:

• Emergency room overcrowding is impacting care and forcing shutdowns.

• Nearly 1 million children in California are without health insurance, and the number of uninsured adults is growing.

• Health care costs are up 50 percent over the last three years.

• Each California family is paying $1,200 extra every year because the health care system is broken.

Waiting until next year is not an option. If reform doesn't happen this year, it is simply not going to happen. Excuses will abound. We've all heard them before. It's an election year, or the economy or the housing crunch or …

I think we get the picture. With a budget deficit facing us next year coupled with an election and the desire to pay special attention to education, our elected leaders will almost certainly give health care reform short shrift.

Consequently, action must be taken now. Californians cannot afford to wait another year. There is no doubt this is a complex issue without an easy solution. No one expects this issue to be solved with the wave of a pen. Yet, while there are differing opinions over the roles and responsibilities over who pays for health care coverage, or whether health insurance coverage should be mandated, there is much agreement between business, labor, doctors, health providers and consumer advocates on what should be done to significantly improve the system.

All sides agree that every child in California deserves to grow up healthy, and that we ought to ensure that all kids have health care coverage. There is agreement that our hospital system should be stabilized by increasing reimbursements for medical care through public programs, and that hospitals be assessed a provider tax to help finance health system improvements. And stakeholders agree that insurance companies should be required to spend no less than 85 percent of premium revenues on medical care, with fewer dollars going toward administration and paperwork.

It's time for our legislators and the governor to deliver, whether in the form of a complete health care overhaul or simply providing coverage for California's kids. Either works. What doesn't work is quitting when the achievable is so close. It's time for our elected leaders to get back in the game. The clock is ticking, and time is running out.

About the writer:

• Dr. Robert K. Ross is the chief executive officer of the California Endowment, California's largest health care foundation.