DOUGLAS A. FRASER         LANE KIRKLAND       MRS. ALBERT D. LASKER       VERNON E. JORDAN, JR.        MELVIN A. GLASSER
Chairman             Secretary           Vice Chairman               Vice Chairman               Director

December 9, 1980
Washington, D . C .

Committee for National Health Insurance
     Program for 1981

1. Provide an action center for dissemination of information and
organization of activities to advance health care measures, particularly
those affecting consumers and patients.

2.   Continue to press for comprehensive, cost effective, quality assured
national health insurance; review, clarify and update the Health Care for
All Americans Act.

3.  Oppose various so called national health insurance proposals like
Catastrophic health insurance and f'consumer choice" plans which offer
the appearance but not the substance of meaningful health care protection.

4.   With the expert assistance of professional health care specialists

recommend new measures to move forward toward assurance of compre-
hensive health care for all Americans.  Provide resource information and
evaluation to CNI-II-HSAC Members and cooperating organizations on health
care proposals which may be under consideration by the Congress and
other bodies.

5.
and imbrovement of the health delivery system.

Support and help develop programs which will advance reorganization

6. Advocate meaningful cost containment and quality assurance
programs and demonstrations.

7.   Continue to press for the adoption of measures which will contribute
to solving this basic problem underlying this country's chaotic health
delivery system.  These include no health insurance protection for some
27 millicln Americans and highly inadequate protection for at least 20

7.   Continue to press for the adoption of measures which will contribute
to solving this basic problem underlying this country's chaotic health
deliverv svstern. These include
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million more, shortages of hiafth providers in most urban ghettos and
rural areas, and personnel surpluses in other geographic areas, too few
preventive health activities, particularly for children and for workers
exposed to environmental hazards, an outmoded fee for service delivery
system, many hospitals facing financial disaster, inadequate access for
many to decent care, particularly for the poor and the ethnic minorities,
and the aforementioned issues of protection of quality and control of
runaway costs.

8.
effective new ways of providing continuing care for the chronically ill elderly.

Develop and support measures to improve Medicare and Medicaid and seek out

9. Study and report on alternative methods of financing health care services.
Evaluate the effect of the increasing participation of private for profit entreprenneurs
in what has been termed "the new medical-industrial complex."

10.
of all health delivery activities, public and private.

Assure that the concept of !'caringt' is constantly considered as an integral part

To advance these goals, the Committee will:

1.

2.

3.


4.

5.

6.

Develop and work with action coalitions of individuals and organizations

Provide e-vert information

Reinvigorate its state and local action Committees

Develop a speakers bweau from among its national committee members, its
technical committee and others.

Consult with the Administration and testify before committees of the Congress.

Conduct a broad public information program.

   The Committee intends to cooperate with the new administration and the
Committees of the Congress in seeking better ways to address the very serious problems
in America's health care system.  These problems have been well identified by past
Presidents of both major political parties.  The times and the people require effective
solutions .

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