CA EVENT: On The Cutting Edge

Video: Part 1 of 2 | Part 2 of 2

The spiraling cost of medical coverage and treatment is tearing apart the old social contract for healthcare. 

In the last century, employers provided health benefits to most workers, and the government provided only for older American and the very poor. Today’s economy relies heavily on self-employed entrepreneurs and low-income workers without benefits. However, our outdated system provides significant barriers to coverage and access for these groups whose situation is made even more precarious by the ongoing economic downturn. 

This lunchtime seminar featured two healthcare leaders who are on the cutting edge of creating access to coverage and care for those disadvantaged by our current healthcare system. 

Presenters

Sara Horowitz is the Executive Director of the Freelancers Union, a nonprofit organization that represents the needs of America's independent workforce.  In this
role, she spearheaded the creation of the Freelancers Insurance Company to ensure that independent workers in New York have stable, long-term access to health insurance.  She is now working with policymakers to bring this model to other states. (PowerPoint Presentation)

Susan Ehrlich is the interim Chief Executive Officer of the San Mateo Medical Center and helped create its Innovative Care Clinic. The Clinic's integrated approach to the treatment of chronic illnesses seeks to improve health outcomes and quality while lowering medical costs for California. (PowerPoint Presentation)

Respondent

Frank Micciche is the Managing Director of the Next Social Contract Initiative of the New America Foundation.  He will lead a discussion over lunch on how these innovations might best be incorporated into federal and state legislation.

The event was jointly sponsored by the California Program and the Next Social Contract Initiative of the New America Foundation and the California Research Bureau.