ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 13, 1991                   TAG: 9104130318
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TRUST LAUNCHES REFORM OF U.S. HEALTH PROGRAMS

In an unprecedented expression of frustration with the state of the health-care system in the United States, one of the country's largest charitable trusts specializing in health has decided to concentrate almost exclusively on reforming government health programs.

The $100 million, five-year initiative by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation of Menlo Park, Calif., to help revamp programs like Medicaid, Medicare and school lunches defies the long-time uneasiness of many foundations with activities that might been seen as political.

As part of the initiative, the foundation will try to develop better ways of running existing programs: For example, it might work with agencies to apply the principles of health maintenance organizations, known as HMOs, to the Medicaid insurance program for the poor.

Kaiser officials believe that a foundation, unlike the government, is free to take risks and make mistakes. They are optimistic that successful ideas will be embraced by overtaxed government agencies. - Los Angeles Times 


 by CNB