Last week I stood on the steps of the Statehouse in Trenton to launch a state-focused initiative to give the people of New Jersey an active role in the Congressional efforts to reform our nation's broken health care system. I want to Make Health Care Work For New Jersey, and I want to get everyone involved in the reform process.
An important means of getting people engaged is my new website - PalloneForNewJersey.com/Health ? which takes focus on our vision to make quality health care a reality for all Americans. We asked people to share their stories and ideas, and Blue Jersey was the first place I turned to when we launched this site. So I want you to also be the first to know about our plans to really ramp up our grassroots campaign for health care reform.
At the announcement I was proud to be joined by representatives of so many groups and by people making a difference in New Jersey. Included were the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, Planned Parenthood, NJ Citizen Action, HINJ, NJ Business and Industry Association, SEIU State Council, HPAE, the NJ Hospital Association and numerous others. We also heard some very inspiring comments from AARP?s Marilyn Askin, the NJ Health Care Quality Institute?s David Knowlton, Laurel Brennan from the AFL-CIO and my former Congressional colleague Bob Franks, who now serves as President of the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey. There are many more who have voiced their support and their willingness to get involved.
There has been a lot of talk about health reform, but now it?s time to get things done. I will take the ideas of New Jersey doctors, small business owners, drug manufacturers, workers, patients and families back to Washington to help shape the reforms. I?m happy to have the support of state legislators in Trenton as well. In fact, State Senator Joe Vitale recently applauded our efforts. Coming from someone who has been a clear champion on health care issues in New Jersey, that means a lot to me.
In the upcoming months, I will travel across the state to hear from different groups and constituencies on the best way to reform health care system, making quality care accessible and affordable for everyone. As always, you can share your thoughts through our website. I also want to hear directly from people. So I will travel the state to host town hall meetings, hospital tours, roundtable discussions and mass, statewide conference calls. I will focus on four main areas: 1). improved access to care, 2). expanding affordable coverage, 3). lowering costs by making health care more efficient, and 4). strengthening public health.
One of the aspects of health care that is frequently raised is primary care. I have been asked about single-payer and universal health care. I have been asked about waste in our current health program. I have been asked about Medicare and Medicaid. I have been asked about employer-provided health. And the dialogue has just begun. Obviously when people want to talk about health care reform they have a lot of concerns. As we move forward with reforms in Washington their concerns, their ideas and their problems will be an important ingredient.
Earlier this week was the first event I attended as part of my health care campaign: a forum on medical innovation and improving pediatric wellness. Held at the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children?s Hospital at Robert Wood John University Hospital, we discussed advances in children?s health. I was proud to speak about issues such as the State Children?s Health Insurance Program. There were a slew of experts at this panel, and I came away with a very clear thesis from all their presentations. First, the good news is that today?s doctors, scientists and researchers are far-better equipped than their predecessors to take on challenges in the world of health. However, while technologies and treatments have greatly improved and have even rendered some diseases nearly obsolete, developments in children?s medicines and health education have fallen behind. I believe every child in America should have access to proper health care coverage and those who have the ability should also be working to help provide better services and education to children and parents.
Overall, this forum was a great event to get the conversation started about how to improve our nation?s health - and especially lives of our children and those who need help the most. In just a few short months, we?ve already made tremendous strides in the 111th Congress to improve health care for children. In addition to passing S-CHIP, I?m also proud of the investments being made in our nation's health research agencies through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that Congress passed last month. Building on our momentum so far, I look forward to addressing health care reform to ensure that all our children have consistent access to high quality care and the latest medical innovations.
Please don?t forget to visit our website - PalloneForNewJersey.com/Health - to continue the discussion about health care reform. I look forward to hearing from you over the next few months, online and across our state.
