By invitation · from 11 December 2026

A Convention for Health Care

An effort to devise a comprehensive, bipartisan or non-partisan policy solution for the American health care system.

Modelled on the American Constitutional Convention, in the spirit of Benjamin Franklin.

Executive assistants are welcome to register on a participant’s behalf.

5goals of a well-functioning system

3 daysonce a month, through July 2027

0cell phones in the meetings

Fall 2027release of a report and plan

Why now

Five goals. The system achieves none of them.

In each of these areas, it could well be argued the system is getting worse, not better.

Universal coverage

~10%

uninsured in 2026, up from an all-time low of 8% in 2023.

ii.

Sustainable costs

10%+

predicted rise in employer costs in 2027.

iii.

Quality of care

<50%

of diabetes patients with HbA1c below 7%, down from 57%.

iv.

Diminishing disparities

+20%

rise in rates of severe maternal morbidity.

Satisfaction

70%

of Americans say the system needs major reform or is in crisis (Gallup).

There is widespread recognition of the problem. What is missing is shared agreement on a plausible, realistic, actionable, comprehensive policy solution. Without one, nothing will happen.

The model

The 1787 model, applied to health care.

In 1787, delegates met in Philadelphia under a pledge of total secrecy. The windows were nailed shut and guards stood at the doors. The Convention nearly deadlocked several times. On 17 September, the 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin urged his colleagues to compromise, and 39 delegates signed.

Fifty-five attended over four months, and many meetings had far fewer. We hope you can commit to at least three or four meetings through July 2027.

No cell phonesPhones are barred from the meetings.

In confidenceNo discussion with the press or colleagues about where deliberations are heading.

OpennessTo the opinions of others, compromise, and an attempt at unanimity.

The national interestNot parochial or business interests.

“…doubt a little of his own Infallibility, and to make manifest our Unanimity, put his Name to this Instrument.”

Benjamin Franklin · Closing speech, 1787

The schedule

Three-day weekends, once a month.

December is confirmed. For each meeting that follows, we are holding up to two weekends; each will move to confirmed once we know which dates work for the group. When you register, please tick every weekend you could attend.

Confirmed Potential dates: one weekend to be chosen per month

December 2026Meeting 1 · New Jersey

11–13

Stage: Confirmed

January 2027Location TBC

15–1722–24

Stage: Potential dates

February 2027Location TBC

12–1426–28

Stage: Potential dates

March 2027Location TBC

5–719–21

Stage: Potential dates

April 2027Location TBC

2–49–11

Stage: Potential dates

May 2027Location TBC

7–9

Stage: Potential dates

June 2027Location TBC

4–725–27

Stage: Potential dates

July 2027Location TBC

9–1116–1823–25

Stage: Potential dates

Fall 2027Report & plan

Release of a report and plan, with independent actuarial cost analysis.

One topic per meeting

The first meeting is to get to know each other and specify goals and principles. Each subsequent meeting tackles one topic, and the final meeting(s) refine the proposal so it coheres.

1Universal coverage
2Reasonable and sustainable costs
3High and improving quality
4Reducing disparities
5Administration and workforce
+Additional issues, such as AI, may be added

First meeting

11–13

December 2026

The Ridge, Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Guest rooms, meeting space and dining all on site, about 28 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

About the venue →

Get to know each other. Set the goals and principles.

11Fri

Afternoon arrivals · welcome dinner

Arrive when you can and settle in. Drinks at the bar, then a welcome dinner in the evening.

12Sat

Working meeting until about 4:00 PM

Time afterwards to catch up on email or use the gym, then a special dinner from 6:30 PM, with details to follow.

13Sun

Until 1:00 PM

Concluding sessions, then departures.

EJE

Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD

University of Pennsylvania

About

Dr. Zeke Emanuel

Vice Provost for Global Initiatives and Co-Director of the Health Transformation Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is the Diane v.S. Levy and Robert M. Levy University Professor.

From 2009 to 2011 he was Special Advisor on Health Policy to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the National Economic Council, where he helped draft the Affordable Care Act. He has more than 350 publications and 16 authored or edited books, most recently Eat Your Ice Cream (2026).

Founding chairDepartment of Bioethics, National Institutes of Health

Special Advisorto the Director-General of the World Health Organization

MD & PhD, HarvardMSc, Oxford · BA, Amherst

Elected memberAmerican Philosophical Society (2026), Institute of Medicine, American Academy of Arts and Sciences

How to register

One registration for the whole series.

You can come back to update your details at any time.

Participant details

Add the participant’s details, and an executive assistant or coordinator if one is helping.

ii.

Confirm December

Confirm attendance for 11–13 December: arrival and departure times, whether you need a ride, accommodation and dietary needs.

iii.

Future meetings

Indicate which 2027 meetings you hope to attend. We’ll follow up as each is confirmed.

For executive assistants

You can register on a participant’s behalf and add yourself as coordinator, so confirmations and logistics reach you both.

Supporting more than one participant? Please complete a registration for each.

Questions?

Logistics, travel or registration: the Huddle team at [SUPPORT_EMAIL] or [PHONE].

The programme: [ORGANISER_EMAIL].

ParticipantsWho's taking part →Names, photos and short bios of everyone joining the series. VenuesWhere we'll meet →Details of the December venue, and future meetings as they are confirmed.

“Within these Walls they were born, & here they shall die.” — Benjamin Franklin, 1787. Participation is by invitation only; please do not share this site or its contents.