We, the undersigned, believe the time has come for comprehensive health reform, to ensure that every American has affordable access to the highest quality healthcare in a system that aggressively promotes efficiency and the best health outcomes.

We believe that reform must proceed according to the principles below:

1. Ensure universal health care coverage for all Americans.

2. Improve the quality and efficiency of health care services by adopting clinical best practices and promoting organized systems of care.

3. Establish a stable, equitable, broad-based, and predictable health care financing system.

4. Promote affordability and address rising health care costs by advancing opportunities to achieve the greatest value for our health care dollars.

5. Provide meaningful individual choice of providers and plans while promoting preventive care, protecting consumers from the costs of major illnesses, and improving the management of chronic conditions.

6. Achieve greater reliability in health care coverage, including improved portability of coverage and continuity of care.

We ask that you, as a national leader, ensure that by 2011 Congress will pass and the President will sign comprehensive reform legislation in accordance with these principles, thereby guaranteeing affordable access to the highest quality healthcare for every American.