Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts (D) onFriday announced the "Mission: Healthy Rhode Island" initiative, whichconsists of a series of meetings to consider health care proposals andmake recommendations to the 2008 General Assembly, the Providence Journalreports. Roberts at a meeting on Friday told the group of about 60representatives from state businesses, hospitals, insurance agencies,labor, advocacy and not-for-profit groups and state lawmakers that thestate's expected $450 million budget shortfall should not hinderdiscussions about ways to stabilize health care costs and providelow-cost coverage to uninsured residents.
Roberts said thestate will study other states' efforts to overhaul health care, adding,"We are looking at what other states have done and what is doable inRhode Island." However, she said she would not seek to change theemployer-sponsored health care system.
Rhode Island Health Insurance
She noted that budgetlimitations could limit efforts to expand coverage because one-third ofthe state's expenses are allocated for health care programs such as RIteCare and Medicaid. Roberts will hold seven more similar meetings in the next few months (MacKay, Providence Journal, 11/17). \t\t\t\t\t\t
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