Our great hidden healthcare system

* Make public awareness of services a priority. No one expects government to market its programs as intensely as private industry, but Congress needs to be fully committed to creating a continuing communications effort about who qualifies for services and how to access them. Unfortunately, the common experience is that much ado is made when a program is announced, followed by little outreach effort to the needy by local agencies.

To this end, public airwaves should be utilized to promote the options. The foundation has relied on radio and television public service announcements, news stories and health organizations such as the American Cancer Society to get the message out about its service, without a single dollar paid for advertising.

* Don't over-promise. California's children's health insurance program was placed on the chopping block just months after President Obama signed federal legislation in February ensuring its viability. If current government programs aren't fully funded because there is no tax revenue to support them, make sure the money is there to implement any new layer of healthcare service before assuring Americans that it will be there for them.

Few question that change is needed in the healthcare delivery system to reduce the ranks of the uninsured. It's important, however, that any reform be accompanied by a concerted effort to make sure that those who need help know how to find it.