MINNEAPOLIS, March 13, 2008—A Q&A in the Star Tribune business section with Richard Pettingill, president and chief executive of Allina Hospitals and Clinics, revealed his thoughts on the health care reform bills working their way through the Legislature.

Pettingill was asked to characterize the bill from Gov. Gov. Pawlenty's task force versus one from from a legislative commission.

"The nice thing is [that] there are more similarities than substantive differences in the two proposals," Pettingill said. "The elements of universal coverage, payment reform, medical homes and linkages to the public health sector -- these are all very important.

Pettingill lamented that the most expensive health care system in the world is not producing the kind of value it should.

"We focus on acute, critical care within the walls of institutions and not enough on wellness and prevention, such as health-risk assessments and dealing with problems such as childhood obesity. We don't have the model wired correctly."

Pettingill spoke in favor of the medical home concept. "With a medical home, you get connected to a pharmacist, to a nutritionist, to a behavioralist ... it extends beyond a one-to-one relationship."

Complete text of the Star Tribune Pettingill interview