Executive Order 31 (2006)

Establishing the Health Reform Commission

Importance of the Issue

Access to affordable, safe, high quality health care and long-term care are fundamental building blocks of a strong society.  Virginians today face challenges in accessing health care, more than 1 million Virginians are uninsured and a growing shortage of health professionals of all types complicates access to care.  While Virginia’s health professionals are tremendously skilled and dedicated, more needs to be done to improve the quality and safety of patient care.  Health care costs continue to rise, creating further strains on access to care and raising competitiveness issues for employers providing health care to their employees and retirees.

Health reform is a challenging undertaking, involving a wide range of valid, competing interests.  Therefore, it is appropriate that leading voices on health care in Virginia be convened to make recommendations for reforming and strengthening health care in Virginia.

Creation of the Commission

By the power vested in me by Article V of the Constitution of Virginia, and Section 2.2-134 of the Code of Virginia, and mindful of the critical importance of this issue, I hereby create the Commission on Health Reform (the Commission) and direct it to begin work immediately.  The Commission will be composed of 22 members, including state legislators, consumer and patient advocates, health care leaders, and citizen members.  Additional members may be appointed at the Governor’s discretion.  The Secretary of Health and Human Resources shall chair the Commission.  The Secretaries of Administration, Commerce and Trade, Education, Finance, and Technology, as well as the senior advisor for workforce shall serve as ex officio, voting members of the Commission.  The Commission shall elect a vice-chair. 

The Commission will have the following responsibilities:

1. Identifying and implementing national best practices in health care at the state level in terms of access to care, improving quality and safety of care, providing long-term care, and addressing affordability of care;
2. Working closely with the Joint Commission on Health Care and fostering executive—legislative cooperation on health care issues;
3. Strengthening long-term care;
4. Forming, with appropriate other stakeholders, working groups on the uninsured, quality and safety of care, health care workforce, and long-term care;
5. Issuing a final report by September 1, 2007;
6. Holding public meetings or hearings as appropriate to allow for input into the Commission’s work; and
7. Examining other issues as may seem appropriate.

Staff support for the Commission will be provided by the Governor’s cabinet secretaries, the Governor’s Office, and such agencies as shall be designated by the chair.  All executive branch agencies shall cooperate fully with the Commission and provide any assistance necessary, upon request of the Commission or its staff.

Effective Date of the Order

This Executive Order shall become effective upon its signing and shall remain in full force and effect until July 20, 2007, unless amended or rescinded by further executive order.  It is my intention to renew this commission for an additional year, as permitted by law.

Given under my hand and under the Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia this 20th day of July 2006.

/s/ Timothy M. Kaine, Governor

Attest:

/s/ Secretary of the Commonwealth