Watching the closing session of yesterday’s White House Health Care Summit was a heartening experience. President Obama, looking more like a facilitator than the boss, acknowledged the broad participation by reading comments from the breakout sessions, and then giving space to a few powerful stakeholder voices in the room.
The President’s (near perfect) restraint from responding, countering or redirecting the comments is noteworthy, especially considering he was “surrounded by men and women who made their careers killing health-care reform,” as described in today’s Washington Post.
Even more amazing were the voices. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-Missouri), who noted that many of her constituents are unable to afford care, said: “For us to be able to get together, all stakeholders…is critical, and I hope that all of us will be willing to take a fresh look.” Karen Ignani of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) pledged: “You have our commitment to play, to contribute and to help pass health-care reform this year.” And this from a participant calling for the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities: “You have created a network among us that we didn’t even know exists. We are more alike than we are different.”
The energy in the room was beyond intellectual engagement. While it’s possible there were some instances of merely playing nice, or even malicious compliance, the overriding spirit of coming together created “a tone, a culture, a feeling” of something much grander, noted Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana), Finance Committee Chairman, who also offered one of several touching tributes to Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.).
All in all, a great start. Granted, the summit was all about health care, and of course we would like to have seen more – or at least some – of the discussion dedicated to broader changes that will keep people out of the care system in the first place. And we will, as we – all of us, together – continue to turn collective awareness and action toward building healthier places to live and work. There are many opportunities for this voice to be heard as the White House conducts follow-up sessions, and through grassroots activities like town halls and channels such as healthreform.gov.
What happens now that the stakeholders have left the room? Senator Robert Bennett (R-Utah) advised that those who came together will need to “join hands and jump off the cliff together” – acknowledging an earlier comment by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), who said we’re past the “Harry and Louise” moment; we’re at the “Thelma and Louise” moment.
As we ask after each of our Communities of Health gatherings, how do we make sure the spirit, the energy and belief do not dissipate? How can we help each other uphold our commitments to thinking and learning and acting together? What will it take to make this moment of coming together an ongoing experience of staying together?