Governor Kaine Creates Healthcare Reform Commission
RICHMOND — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today signed Executive Order 31 creating a Commission on Health Reform. The Commission will convene leading voices from all facets of both the public and private sectors to recommend effective ways to reform and strengthen healthcare in Virginia.
“Ensuring access to quality healthcare that is safe and affordable is one of the most fundamental commitments we have to our citizens,” Governor Kaine said. “With more than one million Virginians lacking healthcare coverage, and growing shortages of health professionals in all disciplines across the Commonwealth and the nation, we must look for creative ways to further improve the delivery of healthcare to Virginians.”
The Commission is tasked with identifying and implementing national best practices at the state level with emphasis on access, quality, and safety of care, as well as addressing long-term care and affordability. It will work closely with the General Assembly’s Joint Commission on Health Care and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, and foster cooperation between the Executive and Legislative branches on this important set of issues.
The Commission will be chaired by the Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Marilyn Tavenner, and will have a diverse membership including state legislators, members of the Governor’s Cabinet, consumer and patient advocates, health care leaders, and citizens. Appointees will be announced in coming weeks. The Commission will hold public meetings to allow for citizen participation in its work, and will issue a final report to the Governor by September 2007.
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