Across St. Louis, emergency rooms already burdened by an increase in uninsured patients face a looming threat — a recession-spurred boom in business.

Despite economic hard times, House and Senate leaders began the session by pledging to work together to hammer out a workable budget, spur the economy and help working families.

In a reversal of the Ozarks' typically robust health care industry, area hospitals have taken a knife to expansion plans, postponed equipment purchases and cut discretionary spending to brace themselves against the nation's economic downturn.

Tom Daschle formally began the incoming administration's arduous quest to overhaul the nation's health care system on Thursday, telling former Senate colleagues that the task had become more urgent because many people were losing health insurance, along with their jobs, in the recession.

House Democrats plan to give President-elect Barack Obama an early victory on health care, specifically children's health care, next week.

President-elect Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats are considering major expansions of government-assisted health care insurance and unemployment compensation as they begin intensive work this week on a two-year economic recovery package.

For the one-quarter of Americans who live outside metropolitan areas, general surgeons are the essential ingredient that keeps full-service medical care within reach.

The latest news is available at
www.CoverMissouri.org

In 2008, public engagement in the electoral and policymaking process reached unprecedented levels. Along with citizens from across the nation, Missourians openly debated a variety of issues, including health care. A poll released just before the November election indicated the public’s desire for newly elected officials to make health care affordable for all. This is especially relevant during times of economic turmoil when unemployment rises, incomes decline, and individuals lose their employer-sponsored coverage.

Last year also saw the launch of Cover Missouri, which is an effort to provide quality, affordable health coverage to every Missourian. The Cover Missouri team held a series of community meetings throughout all regions of the state in order to gain insight and perspectives on feasible policy solutions to the issue of the uninsured. These meetings began with an overview of the Missouri health landscape – a review of the state of Missouri’s health and of the importance of health coverage. This background presentation then transitioned into an open conversation that explored the specifics of the given community and realistic policy solutions that would work for area residents.

For 2009, Cover Missouri will continue to be grounded in non-partisan, fact-based research, reflecting our belief that open and informed public dialogue is a key to crafting feasible solutions to the health care challenges facing Missourians. In that spirit, the Foundation worked with its partners to produce a series of issue briefs on health care topics affecting the everyday lives of Missourians. These papers, Issues in Missouri Health Care 2009, are intended to provide analysis in an accessible format that contributes to the public dialogue on the state of health care in Missouri.

Health care reform promises to be part of Missouri’s policy agenda in 2009. I encourage you to explore these issue briefs and continue to exchange ideas on how we can attain quality, affordable health coverage for every Missourian.

In good health,

James R. Kimmey, MD, MPH
President and CEO
Missouri Foundation for Health