CA Gov. Schwarzenegger Statement Following President Obama’s Meeting on Health Care Reform and Costs

05/11/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement after President Barack Obama met with health care reform stakeholders to discuss reform and cost containment issues:

“Californians and all Americans are rightly concerned about the cost of their health care - whether they can afford to purchase it, afford to keep it, or afford to get sick. Our health care system remains broken, and especially during this difficult economic time, we have a responsibility to reform the system in a way that controls skyrocketing costs.

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“Two of the elements that are absolutely fundamental in order to achieve true health care reform are a strong, broad coalition of stakeholders supporting reform, along with a sharp focus on cost-containment - we have focused on both in California and now President Obama is including both in his efforts to reform our nation’s health care system. California stands ready to continue sharing our experience with the President’s administration as they work toward national health care reform.”

Governor Schwarzenegger is a national leader in the effort to reform our broken health care system. In 2007, he brought together an unprecedented coalition of health care reform stakeholders in an effort to overhaul California’s health care system - which had a major focus on cost-containment. Some of his cost-containment measure included:

* Increased private insurance healthy rewards and incentive programs
* Improved Health Information Technology by adopting standards such as e-prescribing
* Increased focus on reducing obesity and managing chronic conditions
* Enhanced health care quality and efficiency
* Increased insurer efficiency
* Reduced regulatory barriers to more efficient health care delivery

Source: California Governor