The E. Richard Brown Symposium on Universal Health Care in California
UCLA hosted experts on universal health care and discussed policy formulation in California
Participants learned about the origins of universal health care systems in other countries, how they operate, and whether one could be implemented in California during the E. Richard Brown Symposium on universal health care on March 1 and 2.
The symposium featured a trio of international health policy experts--Tsung-Mei Cheng, Princeton University, discussed Taiwan's system; Raisa Deber, University of Toronto, spoke about Canda's regional models; and Joseph Kutzin, World Health Organization, covered a number of systems in developing and moderate-income countries.
► Watch the Sacramento webcast of the E. Richard Brown Symposium on universal health care
The experts stressed the benefits of universal care models and measured outcomes against the current multi-payer model of health care in the United States. As an example, Kutzin presented data that showed that while the U.S. had 4 percent of the world's population in 2016, it accounted for 43 percent of world health expenditures.
“Everyone should be able to have access to good-quality health services, without fear of the financial consequences for themselves, their families, their businesses and their jobs,” Kutzin said.
Approximately 130 people, including legislative staff, media and students, attended either the panel presentation and discussion at the state Capitol building in Sacramento March 1 or the workshop at UCLA on March 2. More than 500 people viewed the live webcast from Sacramento (recording available here). The office of State Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) helped organize the Sacramento event.
At a reception that kicked off the symposium, California Insurance Commission Ricardo Lara decried that high health care costs forces Californians to choose between losing homes or savings to care for loved ones and thanked the Center for its research to help inform the state on facts about public health systems.
“Your work is critical to getting us to a place where we can have the data, we can have the facts of how the public enormously benefits,” Lara said. “We're California. We lead. We don't wait for the rest of the country.”
Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa) called the Center’s research a “driving force in how we can get to the ultimate goal to get health coverage for everyone in California.”
Center Director Ninez Ponce presented Marianne Brown, widow of UCLA Center for Health Policy Research founder E. Richard Brown, with a resolution from State Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) honoring her for a lifetime of work improving the health of Californians.
At the UCLA event Saturday, David Carlisle, president and CEO of Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, said the symposium’s namesake, E. “Rick” Brown, “taught me everything I know about health policy.” Carlisle said Brown converted him from treating one patient at a time to treating a population. “He was always a guiding light that informed my work.”
Other Center staff participating in the symposium included Director Ninez Ponce; Associate directors Steven P. Wallace and Nadereh Pourat; Senior Fellow Gerald Kominski; and Faculty associates Jack Needleman, Michael Rodriguez and Mark Peterson.
The symposium launched the 25th anniversary of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, founded by E."Rick" Brown in 1994. Brown spent his life advocating strongly for a care-for-all system that would ensure health services for every Californian.
Ninez Ponce said a goal of the symposium is to "honor Rick in a way that gets action; honors Rick in a way that all the presentations are not just 'feel good,' but that they get used."
Agenda for the E. Richard Brown Symposium -- Universal Health Care in California UCLA CAMPUS
Saturday, 2 March 2019
Universal Health Care in California – Global Lessons
Location: UCLA campus (Covel Commons, 3rd floor)
Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. PST
A workshop featuring discussion of the successful development and implementation of universal health care systems in Taiwan, Canada and other middle-income countries. What research is available, and where are the gaps in knowledge?
Workshop Objectives – Draft a research agenda
1. Introductory Speaker – Ninez Ponce – overview of the Friday event
2. Tom Rice – Realizing Rick Brown’s wish for universal care
3. David Carlisle – Local perspective from the president and CEO of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
4. Panel presentations – Overview of Universal Health Care in California – Global Lessons
- Tsung-Mei Cheng. Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
- Raisa Deber, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto [See Deber slide presentation]
- Joseph Kutzin, World Health Organization Coordinator & Lead of Health Financing Team [See Kutzin slide presentation]
- Q&A: Ritu Sadana
5. Break
6. Working Lunch – students move between 7-10 tables lead by guest speakers, faculty. Facilitators: Steve Wallace, Michael Rodriguez, Ninez Ponce, Mark Peterson. Lunch will be provided.
a. Financial/Economic Considerations b. Health System Design c. Workforce Concerns d. Public Health and Policy
7. Break
8. Reconvene panel for work group recommendations on research agenda
a. Have students react to the recommendations
9. Wrap-Up: Ninez Ponce
SACRAMENTO
Friday, 1 March 2019
Universal Health Care in California – Planning, Policy & Political Perspectives
Location: California State Capitol, Room 4203 Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. PST – Recording of Webinar MC: AJ Scheitler
1. Welcome: Ninez Ponce
2. Center Contributions to Coverage Policies: Gerald Kominski
3. Overview of Report to the Assembly and Rick Brown: Rick Kronick
4. Presentations (5 questions for the experts)
- Tsung-Mei Cheng, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
- Raisa Deber, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto [See Deber slide presentation]
- Joseph Kutzin, World Health Organization Coordinator & Lead of Health Financing Team [See Kutzin slide presentation]
- Jim Kahn, UCSF Phil Lee Center for Health Policy Studies — conducted systematic review of single payer studies
- Richard Scheffler, UCB School of Public Health [See Scheffler slide presentation]
5. Panel Discussion – reaction to the presentations and topics:
What can new commission do? What data infrastructure is needed to inform the discussion? Debunking the myths of other universal care systems. Moderator: Mark Peterson.
- Anthony Wright – Health Access
- Hector Rodriguez, UCB & CPAC
- Laurel Lucia, UCB Labor Center
- Sarah de Guia, CPEHN
- Art Chen, CAPA & AHS
6. Wrap Up: AJ Scheitler. Lunch Break at 12:15
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About the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (CHPR) is one of the nation’s leading health policy research centers and the premier source of health policy information for California. UCLA CHPR improves the public’s health through high quality, objective, and evidence-based research and data that informs effective policymaking. UCLA CHPR is the home of the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) and is part of the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
