Bill Novelli, CEO of AARP, a membership organization for people 50 and older, talks with the Foundation's Jackie Judd about Divided We Fail, a diverse coalition of interests committed to "access to health care and long-term financial security" for all Americans. Novelli also discusses why he believes the most practical way to achieve those goals is through incremental change.

John Sweeney, President of the AFL-CIO, a federation of 56 national and international labor unions, talks with the Foundation's Jackie Judd about the union's support for "sweeping change" in the health care system to achieve universal coverage, after a new president takes office. Sweeney says the union has "an open mind" at this point about what those changes should be. 

Dr. John Seffrin, CEO of the American Cancer Society, a nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer, talks with kaisernetwork.org Managing Editor Jill Braden Balderas about the Society's view that a lack of access to adequate and affordable care has become a "major cancer killer." He also discusses the need for a "candid, adult discussion about rational care."

Scott Serota, President and CEO of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, a federation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance companies, talks with the Foundation's Jackie Judd about ways the Association believes health care costs can be brought down. Serota discusses a proposal to create a public-private partnership which would identify best medical practices and reward doctors who follow those practices. This is an audio-only interview.
 

Karen Ignani, president of America's Health Insurance Plans, a trade association representing insurers, talks with the Foundation's Jackie Judd about AHIP's plan for broader coverage, the importance of organizations coming together to achieve change and what government and the next President need to do to change the status quo. 

Cass Wheeler, CEO of the American Heart Association, a national voluntary health organization focusing on heart disease and stroke, talks with kaisernetwork.org Managing Editor Jill Braden Balderas about the AHA's four principles for health care reform, how to deal with disparities in health care treatment and how better use of 'best practices' would improve the current health care delivery system. This is an audio-only interview. 

Dr. Nancy Nielsen, president of the American Medical Association, which represents physicians across the country, talks with the Foundation's Jackie Judd about the AMA's three-point plan for changes in the health care system including reform of the health insurance marketplace. She describes why the AMA is seeking a change in the tax system so individuals buying insurance are not at a disadvantage compared to Americans who receive coverage through their employers. 

Dr. Georges Benjamin, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association, which represents public health professionals, talks with the Foundation's Jackie Judd about the Association's desire to "get everyone under the big tent" of universal coverage. Dr. Benjamin also discusses the need to move from a "sick care system" to a system that emphasizes prevention and early intervention. 

Susan Gates, general counsel of the Children's Defense Fund, an association dedicated to advocacy for children, talks with kaisernetwork.org Managing Editor Jill Braden Balderas about CDF's drive to see that all children in America have health insurance and access to medical care. Gates says coverage is uneven from one state to another so the federal government needs to create an "equal playing field."  

Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, a national non-profit that advocates for affordable, high quality health care, talks with the Foundation's Jackie Judd about opportunities for changes in the health system and how a new, broad coalition has come together to help make this happen.

Chip Kahn, president of the Federation of American Hospitals, an association representing investor-owned hospitals and health systems, talks with the Foundation's Jackie Judd about how the lack of compensated care impacts the entire health care system, including Americans who are insured. He discusses the need for political will and compromise to make significant changes and why he is "less confident" there is a viable model for reform.

Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, the Executive Director of MomsRising.org, an on-line advocacy organization dedicated to building a "more family-friendly America," talks with the Foundation's Jackie Judd about the need to provide every child in America with health care coverage. She discusses the membership organization's support of an expansion of SCHIP and more generous family leave after the birth of a child. This is an audio-only interview.
 

Former Governor John Engler, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, an industry trade association advocating for manufacturers, talks with the Foundation's Jackie Judd about the need to look at new forms of insurance so employers can continue to offer insurance to workers. This interview is audio-only.

Todd Stottlemyer, president and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business, an association representing small businesses, talks with kaisernetwork.org Managing Editor Jill Braden Balderas about NFIB's 10 principles for health care reform, how various organizations have come together to advance change in a bipartisan environment and his views about how mandates and changes to the tax code and risk pool laws impact access to affordable health care for small business owners. 

Ray Scheppach, executive director of the National Governors Association, talks with the Foundation's Jackie Judd about changes to the health system that can help states deal with rising health care costs, states' Medicaid budgets and options for health reform at the state level.

Dr. Mohammad Akhter, executive director of the National Medical Association which represents African American physicians, talks with kaisernetwork.org's Managing Editor Jill Braden Balderas about the need for universal health coverage and how to achieve it.

David Himmelstein, co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program, which advocates for a universal, single-payer national health program, and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, talks with the Foundation's Jackie Judd about how a single payer model will lead to universal coverage, the obstacles to achieving it and the implications of such a plan on health care providers and the insurance market. This is an audio-only interview.  

Rev. Heyward Wiggins, steering committee member of PICO National Network, a coalition of faith-based community organizations, talks with kaisernetwork.org Managing Editor Jill Braden Balderas about PICO's road map to covering all children by 2012 and SCHIP's role, improving access to care for adults and providing health care coverage to immigrants. 

Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, representing nearly two million service workers in North America, talks with the Foundation's Jackie Judd about his view that employer-based health care coverage is an out-dated model that must be replaced by a new framework. Stern also speaks about SEIU's plan to launch a nationwide campaign after a new president is elected to push for dramatic changes in the current health care system.

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