[FOLLOWING IS THE PERIODIC BRIEFING SENT BY THE WHITE HOUSE TO ITS OFFICIALS AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF ITS HEALTH-CARE REFORM PLAN. THIS PERIODIC DOCUMENT GIVES A GLIMPSE OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO PROMOTE ITS HEALTH PLAN. IF YOU DO NOT CARE TO READ IT, NOTE THAT IT WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE SUBJECT: Health Care Reform Today , SO YOU CAN EASILY SKIP READING IT. -- Steve Freedkin, list administrator] The White House Health Care Reform Today October 26, 1993 * Tomorrow, President Clinton will send to Capitol Hill the a comprehensive health reform package that guarantees health security that can never be taken away. This legislative package is the result of hours of consultation with members of Congress and the health care community....Democrats and Republicans alike. We're proud of the effort and believe this puts our country on the road to serious health care reform. We look forward to continuing to work together with those who believe in health security for all, continuing to provide a choice in plans and doctors, high-quality medical care, simplifying the health care system, providing savings and making sure that everyone takes responsibility for providing health care. * Yesterday, Senators Phil Gramm and John McCain went on a "bash the President's health care plan" tour paid for by the NRSC with a stop in Boston. While participating in this political trip, they did make one claim we agree with....that health care reform does not require a huge new bureaucracy. That's why we point out an editorial from the October 14th Sacramento Bee. They wrote: "To some East Coast critics of President' Clinton's health-care reform, the regional health alliances he proposes look like another bureaucratic layer on the health-care system. But here in California, some real-world experience with pooled health purchasing suggests that alliances can achieve savings for consumers without being big or bureaucratic." Under the President's plan, the alliances have been simplified and streamlined to provide the lowest possible costs. * Today, Kaiser Permanete will unveil a new quality report card. The Kaiser project has developed measures that can provide meaningful information on the quality of care to both purchasers and provides of insurance coverage. This is a big step in the right direction and is similar the President's call for providing more information to consumers. Under the President's Health Security plan, consumers will receive quality report cards that provide information on patient satisfaction and the performance of health plans, doctors and hospitals. It will include a listing of participating providers, their specialties and where their offices are located. Providing easy-to-understand, comparative information on the quality of care will help consumers pick the health plans that are best for them. These steps will enable health plans and providers to evaluate and improve the quality of their care and aid in the assessment of quality in the system as a whole.