The Founding Fathers purposely made it difficult for elected officials to pass sweeping legislation. Our Constitution’s separation of powers demands coordination and consensus to pass meaningful laws. For that reason, most of the important pieces of legislation passed in the last 60 years, after lengthy debate, ultimately achieved bipartisan majorities on final passage.

For example, 153 Democrats and 136 Republicans in the House voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Yet, comprehensive health care reform proposals have stubbornly resisted this bipartisan tradition.

The truth is that we still need a major reboot on health care across the country and in the community we are privileged to serve as part of Ascension, the nation’s largest not-for-profit health system.

Both parties understand that the Affordable Care Act has weaknesses that restrict choice and inflate prices in the individual market. These challenges need to be addressed sooner rather than later because real people will be affected.

Rather than start with one party crafting a solution and trying to attract a few moderates from the other party, now is the time to restart the process by gathering well-intentioned people from across the entire ideological spectrum around one table.

On a national level, the Bipartisan Policy Center has convened a representative group of health policy experts to develop consensus proposals to improve our health care system.

The group includes respected representatives from numerous points of view. At the table are conservatives who believe that consumer-driven health care must include less regulation, more individual responsibility and increased use of health savings accounts. 

There are progressives who favor expanded federal programs, increased resources for those who need them and further regulation of insurers and exchanges.

The group also includes thoughtful experts who fall between these ideological poles, all of whom want to spend their valuable time crafting a consensus proposal.

This is a positive and welcome development.

Important ground rules should be set for the group and for meaningful work on these issues by anyone going forward.

The intent of this work should not be characterized as “repeal and replace ObamaCare.” In fact, the group should avoid the use of labels like “ObamaCare,” “TrumpCare” and “repeal and replace.” These phrases have become partisan weapons that serve to divide rather than unite.

Instead, the goal should be what everyone wants: responsible suggestions to improve our health system. This effort and others like it should work to reach agreement on practical and achievable improvements to how we as a society fund and provide value-based health care at an affordable cost.

Guided by the staff of the Bipartisan Policy Center, this group should collaborate to craft practical proposals and deliver it to Congressional leadership, so that Congress can work together to come to agreements on proposals that can move forward.

It’s noteworthy that the new administration has expressed an openness to working across the aisle on health care. The Bipartisan Policy Center has a vitally important role in the process to deliver concrete plans to Congress and ultimately to the president.

Health care reform proponents locally and nationally must learn an important lesson from our nation’s past debates over crucial issues including civil rights, Medicare and tax reform. 

Coming together and working across the aisle is key to enacting legislation that brings about fundamental change — change that ultimately benefits those we serve in southwest Michigan.

Kathy A. Young is the president and CEO of Borgess Health.