President Barack Obama has invited to the White House more than 120 people who hold a wide range of views on how to fix the world”s costliest health care system, one that still leaves millions uninsured.
A broad group of doctors, patients, business owners and insurers were to gather for a forum Thursday in hopes of building support for big changes in health care. Republicans are invited, and they”re expected to speak up.
“The president wants to engage with Congress in a transparent and bipartisan fashion,” said Melody Barnes, who heads White House domestic policy.
Among the invitees are some who helped kill the Clinton administration”s health care overhaul in the 1990s. Everyone is supposed to be on his best behavior, but will that last?
“This is a different day, ” said Chip Kahn, a hospital lobbyist who opposed President Bill Clinton”s plan and was to attend Thursday”s gathering. “I think among most of the stakeholders, everyone wants to see this work. There is a tremendous feeling that it”s time.”
Now president of the Federation of American Hospitals, Kahn worked for the insurance industry in the Clinton years.
