USofCare Launches With Aim of Achieving Affordable Care for Every American

A diverse group of more than 50 prominent health care leaders, including Andy Slavitt, Bill Frist M.D., Atul Gawande M.D., Bernard Tyson, Steve Beshear, Cecilia Muñoz, Elena Hung, and Mark McClellan M.D., announce the launch of United States of Care

Minneapolis, MN – Today, a broad group of health care leaders from policy, patient advocate, clinical, business and innovation backgrounds launched United States of Care, a new non-partisan, non-profit organization leading a movement to ensure that every single American has access to quality, affordable health care regardless of health status, social need, or income.

Approximately 28 million people in the U.S. don’t have health insurance coverage, and even those with coverage can face devastating out-of-pocket costs. At the same time, intractable partisan politics in Washington, D.C. have led to an inability to come together to solve this very real problem. That is why United States of Care will work to put health care over politics and listen to the needs of Americans. Americans shouldn’t be healthy only if they’re lucky enough to afford it, and they shouldn’t have to wait for Washington to figure this out.

“Affordable health care should be available to every American, without exception,” says Andy Slavitt, Board Chair of United States of Care and former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Barack Obama. “Time and time again, political agendas have wreaked havoc on health care initiatives, with outcomes favoring only certain Americans. It’s time to put the past behind us and move forward and engage in a dialogue with people across the country to find sustainable solutions that work for everyone.”

While health care continues to be seen as a deeply partisan issue in Washington, D.C., a recent survey commissioned by United States of Care indicates a clear majority of highly engaged voters across partisan lines—as many as 9 in ten—agree we must put health care over politics and work together towards a solution.

“In 2018 United States of Care will focus on listening to the needs and experiences of patients and families, as well as perspectives of medical and health care policy experts from across the political spectrum, supporting and developing solutions to improve the wellbeing of everyday Americans,” said United States of Care Executive Director Emily Barson. “Rather than being defined by a single political stance or legislative priority, we will begin work in the states to create real change that can be tested and improved upon and provide support for new ideas, which can become the basis for national models.”

Policies that United States of Care supports will need to meet three principles: every American should have a regular source of affordable care; no American should face financial devastation due to illness or injury; and solutions must be fiscally responsible and have broad political support.

“The health of our nation is more important than any political party or partisan victory,” says Bill Frist, M.D., former Senate Majority Leader and member of the United States of Care Board. “United States of Care will chart a path toward a long-term health care solution, starting by checking allegiances at the door and putting the patient—our citizens—first.”

While United States of Care will focus on bringing expertise to states and federal lawmakers to find economically and politically sustainable ideas, galvanizing support around policies that work for Americans and their families will be the central mission.

United States of Care will begin by launching a national listening tour to hear from stakeholders and developing resources and expertise to deliver real and lasting results. Americans from across the country will be invited to lead the conversation and join the movement by visiting unitedstatesofcare.org.