Ohio health experts discuss federal reform priorities

A group of about 30 Ohio health care experts gathered at University Hospital East in Columbus yesterday for a discussion on what they hope to see from the Obama Administration (Source: “Health-care experts outline U.S. priorities,” Columbus Dispatch, Dec. 31, 2008).

Secretary of Health and Human Services designate Tom Daschle is promoting community meetings on health reform and soliciting input at the Obama transition Web site, Change.gov.

Yesterday’s meeting, organized and facilitated by Dr. Steven G. Gabbe, chief executive officer of the Ohio State University Medical Center, involved a diverse collection of stakeholders and included some differences of opinion on what direction the new administration should take on health reform.

Among the areas of agreement, however, were:
• All Americans should have affordable health coverage
• Prevention and wellness need to become a higher priority
• Prenatal care and infant care should be emphasized
• The medical home concept should be available to all Americans