States Taking on Battle

I would like to compliment USA TODAY for undertaking an important topic with its "Prescription for change: Fixing American health care" series. But the series did not accurately reflect the dynamic efforts among states to cover uninsured populations, reduce health care costs, and make health insurance more affordable and accessible for individuals and small businesses ("Consumer unease with U.S. health care grows," Cover story, News, Oct. 16).

Following Massachusetts' example, governors across the country are taking dramatic and creative steps to improve health care in their states, operating as laboratories for change, just as they did with welfare reform. They are not willing to wait for Washington to provide a national solution.

Governors are expanding health care coverage to targeted groups who need it but cannot afford the available insurance. By using a combination of public and private funding, states are beginning to shrink the number of uninsured and improve the system for everyone.

In the past, "state health care reform" meant expanding state programs to cover tens of thousands of uninsured. In the wake of Massachusetts, reform can mean covering hundreds of thousands of previously uninsured persons.

Martin D. Sellers
Philadelphia