The need for health care reform is clear. Mayo Clinic steadfastly holds to our primary value that 'the needs of the patient come first.' Our unique strength lies in bringing together leading medical experts from diverse fields to find the best integrated solutions for patients' complex health concerns.

We celebrate our success in 2005, and we will build on our patient care, research and education accomplishments in 2006.

My own view is that the period of economic reform has ended. Reform itself needs to be redefined because the crux of it has left the economic sphere and entered other areas.

Financial incentives alone have never proven to be long-term, effective solutions to health-care reform.

We're calling on the Legislature to quickly pass the health care reform proposal now pending at the State House, with an employer responsibility provision. By putting a floor under employer health expenditures, the employer responsibility provisions halt the race to the bottom that leaves workers with no coverage and raises health care costs for everyone.

There's a good program out there that just needs to be nurtured and expanded. Let's grow it. It helps people in a very direct way.