Former Governors Talk About Health Reform at San Diego AHIP Meeting

On Thursday, political leaders and health insurance industry representatives gathered at the San Diego Convention Center for the annual meeting of America's Health Insurance Plans, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The trade and lobbying group's conference included sessions on maximizing health care spending, expanding access to care and using technology to reduce costs.

Participants spoke about health care reform proposals, including creating a government-run plan to compete with private insurance companies and requiring all U.S. residents to have coverage.

Health industry leaders have pledged to cut about $1.7 trillion from U.S. health care expenses over the next 10 years, the Union-Tribune reports.

The opening day of the conference featured a panel discussion with:

• Former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-Fla.);
• Former Gov. and Chair of the Democratic National Committee Howard Dean (D-Vt.); and
• Former Gov. John Kitzhaber (D-Ore.).

Meanwhile, about 50 protesters demonstrated outside the convention center to advocate for a single-payer health care system run by the government (Darcé, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/5).