Board members of the Los Angeles County Medical Association hosted a luncheon for new Lt. Gov. John Garamendi on Jan. 26. The focus of the conversation was Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's health reform proposal.

Formerly the state's insurance commissioner, Garamendi revealed that he plans to work with the governor to ensure every Californian receives access to affordable healthcare. LACMA leaders praised Garamendi's commitment to access, but asked how the proposal would preserve the physician-patient relationship and decrease physician overhead.

Garamendi invited LACMA and the California Medical Association to remain at the center of the reform debate. In 1991, Garamendi wrote and sponsored the first universal healthcare bill to ever pass the Legislature. It was later vetoed by former Gov. Pete Wilson.