EXECUTIVE ORDER B-19-12
WHEREAS all Californians have a stake in making the healthcare system more cost-effective and efficient, and everyone, including doctors, hospitals, healthcare workers, employers, insurance companies, and patients themselves, can contribute to improving quality and reducing costs; and
WHEREAS the State of California, in partnership with the federal government, is taking steps to improve the healthcare system by expanding coverage, realigning payment incentives, providing consumer protections, reducing health disparities between Californians, and distributing wellness and nutritional information; and
WHEREAS preventable and chronic health conditions are detrimental to every Californian’s quality of life, cause disproportionate social and economic burdens, and result
in California spending 80% of the state’s total healthcare dollars on just 20% of the
population; and
WHEREAS the incidence and treatment of preventable and chronic conditions is well documented, but California lacks a statewide strategy for collecting, prioritizing, and sharing this information to help people make informed decisions about their own health and healthcare; and
WHEREAS California is home to innovative and world leaders in healthcare, technology, research, and philanthropy and has a strong record of developing successful prevention and wellness strategies, like California’s groundbreaking tobacco-control efforts and innovative “health in all” policies; and
WHEREAS the State is uniquely positioned to bring together the talent, resources, experience, and innovations of California’s healthcare workforce, diverse communities, employers, technology and healthcare industries, universities, and others, to develop a plan to reduce the burden of disease and improve the health of all Californians.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of California, do hereby issue this Order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that reducing the individual, social, and economic burdens of preventable and chronic conditions and improving the health of Californians is a priority for California.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Secretary of the Health and Human Services Agency establish a Let’s Get Healthy California Task Force to develop a 10-year plan for improving the health of Californians, controlling health care costs, promoting personal responsibility for individual health, and advancing health equity by establishing baselines for key health indicators, identifying obstacles to better care, making fiscally prudent recommendations, and establishing a framework for measuring improvements.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Secretary appoint the members of the Let’s Get Healthy California Task Force, including individuals representing patients and consumers, healthcare providers, health plans, employers, community-based organizations, foundations, and organized labor. The task force shall first meet by June 15, 2012.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that by December 15, 2012, the Let’s Get Healthy California Task Force provide to the Secretary a written report that includes the baseline data and sets targets for:
(1) Reducing diabetes, asthma, childhood obesity, hypertension, and sepsis-related mortality;
(2) Reducing hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge; and
(3) Increasing the number of children receiving recommended vaccines by age three.
The report shall also include recommendations for achieving these targets without additional government spending and standards for measuring improvement over a 10-year period.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that agencies under my direct executive authority cooperate in the implementation of this Order, and it is requested that entities of State government not under my direct executive authority assist in its implementation as necessary.
This Executive Order is not intended to create, and does not create, any rights or benefits, whether substantive or procedural, or enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California or its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this Order shall be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 3rd day of May 2012.
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EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor of California
ATTEST:
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DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State