A bipartisan group of senators has approached President Bush about working together on healthcare reform. They also offered some principals of reform, including ensuring private health coverage for all Americans.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) leads the contingent, which also includes Sens. Robert Bennett (R-UT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Herb Kohl (D-WI), Trent Lott (R-MS), Ken Salazar (D-CO) and John Thune (R-SD). The president reacted positively to a letter from the group, according to the Bureau of National Affairs.
Besides placing a priority on private health coverage, the group proposes modernizing federal tax rules for health coverage to avoid favoring the most affluent; creating more opportunities for states to design their own health solutions; creating a culture that focuses on prevention; encouraging more cost-effective chronic and compassionate end-of-life care; and improving access to information on price and quality of health services.
