Dialogue with Arkansas leaders is latest stop on industry's listening tour

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Oct. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) President and CEO Karen Ignagni today met with the Arkansas Governor's Roundtable on Health Care to discuss the health insurance industry's proposals to reduce health care costs, improve quality and ensure that every American is covered.

"I'm pleased to join this distinguished panel of leaders to exchange ideas and solutions on how we can make the health care system work better for all Arkansans and all Americans," said Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of AHIP. "Health plans have made specific proposals to ensure that all Americans have quality, affordable health care. I look forward to discussing these proposals with the roundtable members and hearing their feedback and discussion."

Ignagni's participation in today's discussion is the latest stop of AHIP's Campaign for an American Solution national listening tour. The Campaign is a grassroots and educational initiative launched by AHIP in July to build support for workable health care reform based on core principles shared by the American people: coverage, affordability, quality, value, choice and portability.

"The Governor's Roundtable on Health Care embodies the approach that is needed across the country." Ignagni said. "We also believe that the only way to solve our health care challenges is to work together to build consensus. The partisan politics of the past won't work," Ignagni continued.

Over the past two years, AHIP's Board of Directors has developed a range of comprehensive policy proposals to provide all Americans with greater access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage. These proposals can be viewed at www.ahip.org/media.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 17% of Arkansans are uninsured, compared to 15% nationally. Fifteen percent of Arkansas's gross state product is expenditures for health care, and these costs are growing by 9% per year on average.

The Arkansas Governor's Roundtable on Health Care was formed to help improve Arkansans' health and productivity through optimal program development, community support, and empowerment of individuals.

The Roundtable has been meeting bi-monthly to identify, develop, and implement strategies to improve health, deliver care, and enhance both worker productivity and the business climate to advance the state.

About the Campaign for an American Solution

The Campaign for an American Solution is a non-partisan, educational and grassroots initiative of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the national trade association whose members provide coverage to more than 200 million people. Our campaign is grounded in reform principles that are shared by the American people: coverage, affordability, quality, value, choice and portability. Please visit www.americanhealthsolution.org for more information.

America's Health Insurance Plans -- Providing Health Benefits to More Than 200 Million Americans

SOURCE America's Health Insurance Plans