Do you ever wish you could be a fly on the wall when the “otherside” is meeting to talk about health reform? Wouldn't it beinteresting to hear what they have to say?

I had that opportunity not too long ago when I attended thefirst-ever NASHCO Conference in Washington, D.C. NASHCO stands forthe National Association of State Health Cooperatives, and they gottogether to share ideas about the application process for the newnonprofit CO-OPs that might soon be competing with privateinsurance companies. The conference was very well organized andextremely enlightening – the speakers included current and formerinsurance commissioners, retired insurance company executives, anumber of different consultants and HHS reps.

Their passion for the program was contagious. I arrived askeptic but left a believer – this could work. I learned the “otherside” isn't really the other side at all, and the sooner we acceptthat, the sooner we can stop fighting and start workingtogether.

Consumer plans

Section 1322 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Actcreates an opportunity for Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans, anew kind of nonprofit coverage entity whose goal is to develop amore efficient way of providing health coverage and delivering careto Americans.