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| CodeBlueNow! Dispatch |
March 19, 2009 |
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| Greetings!
Divide and conquer has been the rule of the game in health care reform. The Single Payer vs. Marketplace war always has enough truths to scare the middle of the road people from either solution, which is probably good. What it has not done, however, is show what a new system could be and how it could work. We always start health care refrom with "how are we going to pay for it" vs. what is it supposed to do.
This is the first in a series that identifies some areas of consensus which should be the building blocks for reform. These areas of consensus emerged from five years of grassroots work with over 8,000 people across the country, from nonpartisan national coalitions to faith communities, to chambers of commerce.
For more information on our research,
http://www.codebluenow.org/voters-platform/washington-state-results
More consensus exists than the stakeholders and advocacy groups indicate. Why? Because they have decided on their solutions and they don't want to change those positions or problem solve together.
We need to find a solid middle way. We offer these ABC's
as a begining foundation. This is the first of a 3 to 5 part series.
Kathleen |
| Some ABC's on Health Reform: 1 |
After five years of interactive work discussing health care reform on the ground with groups of Americans and various nonprofit organizations, all of us at CodeBlueNow! believe an "alphabet" of operational elements and general principles must be organized to describe how a new "shared responsibility" system would work. This Alphabet, includes reform ideas from other plans and diverse concepts on many issues and sorts through some of the implicit complexities. It even includes current regulations to shine light on the controversy for reform not yet resolved.
Our Alphabet, based on our recent work nationally, combined with the assorted information in this paper, points to a "shared responsibility" health care system as most in tune with the various reforms the public is seeking and will support. For information on our research see: www.codebluenow.org.
The italics represents our commentary on various elements.
If divide and conquer works as a strategy, consolidate consensus can win.
A
Accessiblity: All Americans need to be covered. Unless everyone is covered the costs of care for the uninsured will continue to be passed along to those who have coverage, thus increasing the cost of care. For example, California estimated that $400 per person per year of insurance premium costs were caused by the cost of health care services for the uninsured.
The easiest way to cover everyone is to keep the employer-based system, because 60% of all the people who have private health insurance have it through their employers. Individuals can keep the coverage they have and the current system would not be dismantled, but would be significantly improved.
Accountability: Little accountability currently exists from insurers, to employers and employees. For example, small businesses do not have enough clout or bargaining power to demand performance standards from insurance companies. Inserting accountability into the health care system would improve outcomes and moderate costs.
Currently, the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan model adds accountability by tying insurers' profits to performance criteria. These criteria could be applied to all insurers (See Profit Analysis Factors).
The new clinical outcomes research specified in the economic stimulus plan would give patients greater peace of mind that they have guidelines they can discuss with their doctor when making care decisions.
Affordability: Administrative simplicity, performance standards and electronic medical records will bring down the spiraling costs of care by reducing waste, redundancies and errors.
One set of benefits for everyone and electronic medical records will reduce confusion over benefits and eligibility.
B
Basic Benefit Package: Many models exist for a basic benefit package: Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan; Medicare; Medicaid; state specific plans, such as Washington State's Basic Health Plan; TennCare, among others.
The same basic benefit package will offer Americans the freedom to take any job they want. Their benefits will no longer depend on their job and they will have more economic opportunities and choices. Those employers and individuals who want to have more benefits will be able to purchase them.
C
Choice: Individuals and employers will have their choice of health plans; individuals will have their choice of provider.
Clinical outcomes: Ongoing and expanded research will add to the existing body of knowledge on health care practices and will lead to improved patient care.
This is important because it is not widely known by the public that RAND Corporation studies indicate that 50% of the care patients receive is either inappropriate, unnecessary or wrong.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM): Widely used at present by patients and at many major medical clinics, these professions should be included in a basic benefit package and studied in clinical outcomes research.
CAM providers include naturopathic physicians, chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists. An overwhelming number of Americans want them included in a basic benefit package.
Consistency: With broad access to a standard benefit package, greater consistency will exist across state lines and will reduce administrative costs and errors and will lower costs over time.
Currently, health insurance policies, benefits, services and regulations vary state by state, making it impossible for employers to offer comparable policies across state lines.
Co-pays: Will be retained to help control costs by requiring all the participants to pay a share of their health care costs.
******to be continued******
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We hope you find our ABC's of interest and will share with your friends, colleagues and elected representative.
Just click forward to a friend below. We must work toward consensus. It exists.
Sincerely,
Kathleen O'Connor, Founder & CEO
CodeBlueNow! |
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