Kaiser CEO Endorses Provisions of Governor’s Health Care Reform Plan
Kaiser Permanente CEO George Halvorson came out in favor of key provisions of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) proposed health care overhaul, saying that California could be a model for nationwide health care reform, Reuters reports.
Halvorson said he supports provisions of the governor's plan that would require all Californians to maintain health insurance coverage and bar insurers from denying applications for coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions.
Halvorson said he hopes to see "universal coverage passed in California," but Reuters reports that the governor's health reform plan "is not seen passing this year" because of delays approving the state budget and opposition from some lawmakers. However, the plan "has a chance of re-emerging" when the Legislature reconvenes in January 2008, according to Reuters.
Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente, along with Blue Shield of California and Health Net, is part of a coalition backing health care reform in California. Kaiser is the largest HMO in the U.S. (Dixon, Reuters, 8/16).