ABC News' Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer will moderate a primetime conversation with President Obama about health care reform tonight, Wednesday June 24. Better Health Care Together was asked to submit a question to the President.

At the event at the White House will be two of BHCT’s Members also ready to ask a question. They include: George Corona, COO, Kelly Services, Inc and John Agwunobi, Senior Vice President and President for the Professional Services Division, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Be sure to tune into the special edition of “Primetime” which will air from the White House tonight,  Wednesday, June 24, at 10 pm ET on ABC. (http://abcnews.go.com/)

Guest Column: It's time for all-in effort on health reform

By: Joel Anderson
Vice President and Regional and General Manager for Wal-Mart Stores in Iowa
Published June 23, 2009

Our 18,784 associates in Iowa help us in our mission to serve 140 million customers every week in the United States. We learn a lot from them about what's on the minds of the American people. It's very clear from everything we see and hear that this country's health-care system needs comprehensive reform this year.

In our 67 stores and clubs in Iowa, a variety of trends shows how much health-care costs are squeezing Americans. Our customers are spending more of their hard-earned dollars on vitamins, with the hope of staying healthy and out of the doctor's office. If they get sick, they're self-treating by purchasing more over-the-counter medicines. Customers increasingly rely on programs such as our $4 prescriptions to save money.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       Contact: Amy Weiss
JUNE 22, 2009                                                           202-528-4214


 
(Washington, DC) -- Better Health Care Together (www.betterhealthcaretogether.org) today praised the agreement between the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) for pharmaceutical company contributions to comprehensive health care reform.

“This proposal from one sector of the provider community is one step forward in collaborative and vital cost containment proposals that are essential if the nation is to improve quality, reduce health cost inflation, and make coverage available to all Americans,” said Jody Hoffman, Executive Director of Better Health Care Together.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       Contact: Debra DeShong Reed
JUNE 17, 2009                                                           202-528-4214

Better Health Care Together Praises Release of Comprehensive Health Reform Recommendations by the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Leaders’ Project on the State of American Health Care

(Washington, DC) -- Better Health Care Together (www.betterhealthcaretogether.org) today praised the release of the comprehensive health reformrecommendations of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Leaders’ Project on the State of American Health Care.

 “Senators Baker, Daschle, and Dole’s leadership toward bipartisan recommendations on comprehensive health reform provides demonstrates that collaborative, common-sense change is politically feasible,” said Jody Hoffman, Executive Director of BHCT.

Wal-Mart's eye on healthcare
By Mike Duke
President and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Published June 15, 2009 in The Hill

We, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., serve 140 million customers every week in the United States and we learn a lot from them about what’s on the minds of the American people. It’s very clear from everything we see and hear that this country’s healthcare system needs comprehensive reform this year.

Right now, we’re seeing a variety of trends in our stores that show how much healthcare costs are squeezing Americans. Our customers are spending more of their hard-earned dollars on vitamins with the hope of staying healthy and out of the doctor’s office. If they get sick, they’re self-treating by purchasing more over-the-counter medicines. Customers increasingly rely on programs like our $4 prescriptions to save money, as well.

Why Health Care Now?
By Carl T. Camden
President and CEO, Kelly Services, Inc.
Published May 30, 2009 - The Huffington Post

Just over one hundred days ago, Congress and President Obama approved an unprecedented investment of nearly 800 billion dollars in the U.S. economy. The spending is beginning to reach targeted projects and programs and to bolster job creation. It is now time to address another drag on job creation in America.

As an American who has lived part of his life on public assistance and among the ranks of the uninsured, I am worried about what failing to fix our broken health care system says about our nation's moral character. But as the CEO of Kelly Services, I am increasingly concerned about what failing to fix our health care system means for our nation's economy and its ability to compete globally.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                   Contact: Amy Weiss

April 24, 2009                                                                                             202-203-0448 (for BHCT)
 

Better Health Care Together Urges Swift Senate Confirmation Of HHS Nominee Sebelius

 
Better Health Care Together (www.betterhealthcaretogether.org)  today urged the U.S. Senate to quickly confirm President Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, former Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                     Contact: Amy Weiss

March 2, 2009                                                                                      202-203-0448 (for BHCT)

Better Health Care Together Applauds Choice of Sebelius to Lead HHS and DeParle as Head of White House Office of Health Reform

 
Better Health Care Together (www.betterhealthcaretogether.org)  applauds President Barack Obama’s pick for HHS Secretary, Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, and urges her swift confirmation in the Senate. BHCT also praises the choice of Nancy-Ann DeParle as Head of the White House Office of Health Reform.

Liberal Groups Are Flexing New Muscles In Lobby Wars

By: Jim Rutenberg
February 28, 2009

WASHINGTON — When Newt Gingrich’s Congress was moving full-speed in its efforts to shrink the government more than a dozen years ago, Ralph G. Neas, an indefatigable champion of liberal causes, threw up his hands and declared that his side had been outmaneuvered.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                Contact: Amy Weiss 202-203-0448
February 26, 2009

Statement by Jody Hoffman, Executive Director of Better Health Care Together (BHCT), on President Barack Obama’s budget, which advances collaborative, responsible health reform.