May 7, 2007 11:55 pm US/Pacific
Safeway CEO Launches Health Care Reform Effort
PG&E, General Mills Among Companies Part Of Campaign
WASHINGTON (AP) ―
A new coalition consisting of nearly 40 major companies launched a political campaign Monday to push for reforms in the country's medical insurance system so that more of the 46 million uninsured Americans can afford coverage.
The Coalition to Advance Healthcare Reform said it will lobby lawmakers to provide universal health insurance by giving financial assistance to the poor to help them buy coverage. The announcement was made in Washington, D.C.
The group, founded by Safeway chief executive Steve Burd, includes some of the nation's largest companies: General Mills, PepsiCo, Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Eli Lilly and Company, and a number of supermarket and drug store chains and health insurance companies.
"As major employers, we are engaging in one of the most crucial domestic policy debates of our time—fixing our nation's health care crisis, reducing out of control costs and ensuring every American has affordable health care," Burd said in a statement.
The coalition said rising health care costs will negatively impact the competitiveness of U.S. businesses and that next year the average Fortune 500 company will have a health care bill that exceeds its net income.
The coalition plans to meet with lawmakers to encourage action on the state and federal level. Its members were scheduled to be in Sacramento on Thursday.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a proposal in January that would require all Californians to obtain health insurance, hospitals and doctors to subsidize insurance for the poor and companies to spend a set amount on employee health care.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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