Governors Write Their Own Prescriptions for Healthcare Crisis

November 21, 2005

Governors Write Their Own Prescriptions for Healthcare Crisis

Last week, one day apart, two governors took dramatic steps that could crystallize a healthcare debate developing in the states — even as Washington mostly averts its eyes from the problems of declining access and rising costs.

On Tuesday, Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed legislation making Illinois the first state to guarantee all children access to health insurance.

The next day, Republican Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina asked the federal government for permission to shift responsibility for providing health coverage for the state's poorest citizens primarily to private insurance companies.

These divergent initiatives signal an escalating competition to develop models for coping with the slow-motion crisis in healthcare.

Several Democratic-leaning states are rallying around plans to ensure universal coverage for children as a first step toward expanding access for adults.
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http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-outlook21nov21,1,2705723.column?coll=la-headlines-nation

of health care for adults. The automatic sympathy for kids is lost to the argument of the necessity of universal care.

needs the heath care NOW...JUST AS MUCH as children. While I empathize with childrens' needs...but ALL humans EQUALLY need affordable, available healthcare now.