YAKIMA, Wash. -- As the prospect for major national health-insurance reform ebbs and flows with each day in Congress, the debate will be brought to the local level Wednesday at a forum sponsored by Yakima County Democrats.

In an event keynoted by State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, a veteran of reform battles dating from his time as a Democratic congressman from the 9th District in the early 1990s, five panelists will discuss "affordable health care" and take questions from the audience.

Mary Stephenson, chairwoman of Yakima County Democrats, said the event is nonpartisan, but four of the five panelists either have Democratic affiliations or represent a political philosophy closely aligned with the party.

Kreidler's views are well known.

Now in his third term as insurance commissioner, he's a long-time proponent of reform that would include a public plan to compete with private insurers. He's also been advancing his own version of universal coverage with private options at the state level.

Kreidler said in a telephone interview that the current reform effort in Congress has more momentum than the relatively short-lived push in the '90s by President Bill Clinton.

"I'm very excited about the very strong potential here of doing something profound about a system that's failing people every day," he said.

"There are no guarantees, but this is by far the most serious effort in my memory."

It's estimated that 876,000 residents in the state are uninsured, which is about one in every five people.

As an optometrist with Group Health Cooperative from 1972 to 1992, Kreidler brings another perspective to the debate -- one that has become more relevant in recent weeks as Congress considers a cooperative model of health insurance instead of a public plan.

Some, including Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., are prepared to embrace the co-op approach as a way to control health care costs, because such member-owned organizations presumably have an incentive.

But Kreidler, who also served in the Washington Legislature from 1977 to 1992, said it would be difficult to copy the Group Health experience throughout the nation.

"I think Group Health does a great job, but that's 60 years of history and culture. How quickly you could replicate that (depends, because) it's a very different type of environment and I don't think it's a viable alternative to a public plan."

Opponents of a public plan say it would drive private insurers from the market, eliminate choice and impose a government solution on a problem that could be fixed by market forces.

Kreidler believes the private market can retain viability as long as the public plan is required to meet the same standards and regulatory requirements.

He noted that many states have both public and private workers' compensation insurance plans operating in the same market.

* Leah Beth Ward can be reached at 509-577-7626 or lward@yakimaherald.com.

Public forum

WHEN: Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Yakima Valley Community College, Deccio Building, Parker Room

Keynote speaker: Mike Kreidler, state Insurance Commissioner

Panelists:

* Dr. Carl Olden, medical director, Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and a member of Gov. Chris Gregoire's health planning board

* Craig Salins, director, Washington Public Campaigns Committee

*Anita Monoian, president elect, National Association of Community Health Centers and CEO of Yakima Neighborhood Health Services

* David Reeploeg, office of Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.

* Rebecca Mengelos, office of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

Moderator:

Susan Robinson, retired lawyer, former nurse and author