A report from the front line: policy & politics in health reform

With federal action on health care reform at a standstill, states are faced with the choice of waiting for Washington or moving ahead. But states will have a hard time taking action in the face of economic problems and the need for additional revenues to address the problems of the uninsured. Grass roots advocacy is essential to put health care reform on the political agenda at all levels. Key elements of reform include allocating responsibility for payment and establishing methods of cost control. States have achieved limited success in controlling costs and expanding access but a federal framework is necessary if real progress is to be made.