During this traumatic time, the world of health care is in flux. We don’t know how long the pandemic will last or what our state, country and world will look like when it’s over. But it’s pretty clear that access to care is critical – not only to every individual’s health, but also to the entire public’s health. We hope that this grim reality will help us move forward. We must invest greater resources in public health preparedness, but we must also recognize that public health and access to healthcare for all are inextricably linked. We must build on the temporary improvements in our public programs aimed at combating COVID-19, and recognize that there is so much more to do to ensure access for all. We must envision a more equitable and effective health care system that serves everyone.

This vision is starting to come into greater focus now. David Blumenthal, M.D., of the Commonwealth Fund observed,”Trauma changes people. It can also change nations,” citing the Great Depression and World War II as catalysts for social reforms. He asks, “Should we add COVID-19 to this list of catalytic traumas” that could generate the will for universal health coverage?

Our partners at Health Access in California put it well: “It’s inspirational to see so many communities and institutions respond to this public health situation. Perhaps at no other time have so many Americans thought so much about health system capacity, as we take significant action to “flatten the curve” so our hospitals and respirators are not overwhelmed at once. As we finally start thinking of health care as a system–rather than a commodity–we should take the steps needed to strengthen that system by making it universal, sustainable, accessible, accountable, and ready for the next pandemic.”

The Governors of Washington, Oregon and California have just entered into a Western States Pact to coordinate efforts to control the virus. We applaud their focus on our shared health future, but we hope that the vision will extend beyond fighting this particular virus and toward an effort to ensure universal access to quality, affordable health care, regardless of a person’s condition, economic status, or any other factor.

– Janet Varon, NoHLA Executive Director