Each month this year, KQED Public Radio's The California Report is hosting special statewide live discussions of health issues of importance to Californians. More than a dozen public radio stations statewide air these informative sessions, and many of them have added local programming of their own to this special project.

October 9's show topic was "The Politics of Health." Program guests included Helen Schauffler, PhD, professor of health policy at the University of California, Berkeley; Robert Scarlett, vice president of state and government affairs for WellPoint Health Networks; and Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer for the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. Our special broadcast was part of Health Dialogues, an ambitious two-year special effort to look at California health issues, funded by The California Endowment.

As a candidate for Governor and civic leader, you have made a commitment to examining and addressing health issues. During the show, many Californians called to express their concerns, which we think can be further illuminated with your ideas, suggestions and comments.

One listener who contacted us was Cheri Voisine of the California State Rural Health Association in Sacramento, which represents many rural health consumers, practitioners, businesses and community members across the state. She expressed concern that candidates and elected officials will ignore the interests of rural communities, favoring, instead, the concerns of more voter-dense urban and suburban areas. Your response to this letter might help dispel that notion. In this election season, she wants to know about proposals to improve conditions for rural health consumers. As you are aware, rural residents face many health care challenges including low rates of insurance, shortages of providers (specialists in particular), and long distances to health care facilities. If elected Governor what will you do to resolve these issues for your rural constituents?

A number of other legislators have responded to questions like this. You can read them on our website. We would be pleased to add your observations to our web site -- particularly any responses to the question above. I invite you to join this lively discussion.

The aim of Health Dialogues is to facilitate a statewide discussion on important health issues -- a conversation that brings to the table (on air and via the World Wide Web) policy makers, state officials, private sector organizations, non-profits and everyday citizens affected by health issues and policies. We believe that your observations and ideas would enrich that conversation.

Sincerely,

Raul Ramirez, Director
News and Public Affairs
KQED Public Radio