A Health Policy in Our Future

The National Leadership Commission on Health Care has been put together by some energetic citizens concerned about the lack of national health policy. The nation will owe them gratitude if they manage, as they intend, to come up with coherent answers to the problems of health-care cost, quality and access.

There is no evidence of constructive health-policy planning in Washington, and it is visibly lacking in California and most other states. This lack has served to encourage waste while postponing remedies to problems that affect the entire nation. The United States, alone among the world’s advanced industrialized nations, still has no provision to assure adequate health care to all its citizens. More than one-third of the people lack any health-care protection either in the form of insurance or in government programs. Nevertheless, the United States spends more per capita for health care than does any other nation--more than 10% of the gross national product.

Former Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter have agreed to be honorary co-chairmen of the commission, with Robert D. Ray, former governor of Iowa, and Paul Rogers, former member of Congress active in health legislation, as co-chairmen. Dr. Henry E. Simmons of George Washington University will be the full-time president, directing a staff that will include three researchers. Private corporations and foundations already are committed for $600,000 to launch the ambitious program, but much more will be needed to fund the research and consultation that might provide the basis for a coordinated national health program.