We are in the early stages of developing a blog on healthcare policy reform and economics in Washington State and Washington, D.C. Please swing by Facebook to become a fan, then check out the blog at www.healthcareWA.com.
Comments are always welcome, so discuss!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Washington Reps threaten no vote on healthcare reform until Medicare reimbursement inequities addressed
Read the letter from Washington State Representatives Rick Larsen, Norm Dicks, Brian Baird, Adam Smith, and several more from around the country here: http://www.box.net/shared/rkld4s1ib3
In the above letter to the House leadership, several Washington State representatives and others from around the country suggest they will not vote for a healthcare reform package unless Medicare reimbursements inequities are addressed.
Physicians’ groups have been pushing to correct inequities in reimbursement rates in numerous government healthcare programs, and the MediFair Act, sponsored by Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, is an attempt at reaching that goal.
Due to lower reimbursement rates many Washington State physicians have struggled financially to provide healthcare for the Medicare patients they have or to accept new Medicare lives into their care.
With additional resources, Washington physicians can reinvest in patient care. This includes funding chronic care registries and health record banking that would have pronounced beneficial effects on healthcare delivery.
Washington physicians would receive about $1200 more per beneficiary if Washington State Medicare reimbursement rates were increased to the national average. Statewide, it represents an increase of over $1 billion.
Proponents of balancing the Medicare reimbursement rates suggest the current system is not the most effective path toward providing the highest quality patient care for patients in Washington State.
In the above letter to the House leadership, several Washington State representatives and others from around the country suggest they will not vote for a healthcare reform package unless Medicare reimbursements inequities are addressed.
Physicians’ groups have been pushing to correct inequities in reimbursement rates in numerous government healthcare programs, and the MediFair Act, sponsored by Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, is an attempt at reaching that goal.
Due to lower reimbursement rates many Washington State physicians have struggled financially to provide healthcare for the Medicare patients they have or to accept new Medicare lives into their care.
With additional resources, Washington physicians can reinvest in patient care. This includes funding chronic care registries and health record banking that would have pronounced beneficial effects on healthcare delivery.
Washington physicians would receive about $1200 more per beneficiary if Washington State Medicare reimbursement rates were increased to the national average. Statewide, it represents an increase of over $1 billion.
Proponents of balancing the Medicare reimbursement rates suggest the current system is not the most effective path toward providing the highest quality patient care for patients in Washington State.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Cantwell favors public healthcare option
On Tuesday, June 30th, Senator Maria Cantwell and Governor Chris Gregoire held a healthcare panel discussion at the University of Washington School of Medicine before an overflow crowd.
Cantwell came out in favor of a public healthcare plan, saying directly, "Yes, I support a public plan." She has been on the fence about this issue, getting pressure even from longtime supporters. Labor groups have been among those pressuring her, and their representative at the forum called for “a robust public option.”
Cantwell said she wants to make sure there is a public plan so costs can be effectively driven down.
As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which is a key committee in the healthcare reform debate, Cantwell’s voice on healthcare reform is significant. That committee is expected to share a new draft of a healthcare bill in the next week.
Cantwell’s announcement came just after Senate Democrats picked up one more seat with Senator-Elect Al Franken announced as the winner of the highly contested Senate race in Minnesota. That victory gives Democrats 60 seats in the Senate, making a filibuster-proof majority.
Cantwell also professed support for Primary Care Providers and general practice physicians, the ones responsible for coordinating patient care with specialty physicians. Cantwell said the new system must "reward [PCPs] for coordinating care."
Cantwell also made clear she intends to bring equality to Medicare reimbursements on a national level. Currently, Washington State receives less than the average reimbursements from federal Medicare coffers, and healthcare outcomes are better in Washington than many of the state's that receive more money.
Senator Patty Murray sponsored the MediFair Act, which Cantwell co-sponsored, that would balance reimbursement rates to states.
At the discussion in Seattle, Governor Gregoire told the crowd, "We have a healthcare crisis in America." Gregoire has spent the last week in Washington DC in meetings about healthcare reform, including with President Barack Obama.
Gregoire told the audience that in those meetings she said, "We need a comprehensive solution today."
For a timely and interesting perspective in opposition to a public plan, see Richard Davis's piece in today's Everett Herald: http://tinyurl.com/n7e9k5
Cantwell came out in favor of a public healthcare plan, saying directly, "Yes, I support a public plan." She has been on the fence about this issue, getting pressure even from longtime supporters. Labor groups have been among those pressuring her, and their representative at the forum called for “a robust public option.”
Cantwell said she wants to make sure there is a public plan so costs can be effectively driven down.
As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which is a key committee in the healthcare reform debate, Cantwell’s voice on healthcare reform is significant. That committee is expected to share a new draft of a healthcare bill in the next week.
Cantwell’s announcement came just after Senate Democrats picked up one more seat with Senator-Elect Al Franken announced as the winner of the highly contested Senate race in Minnesota. That victory gives Democrats 60 seats in the Senate, making a filibuster-proof majority.
Cantwell also professed support for Primary Care Providers and general practice physicians, the ones responsible for coordinating patient care with specialty physicians. Cantwell said the new system must "reward [PCPs] for coordinating care."
Cantwell also made clear she intends to bring equality to Medicare reimbursements on a national level. Currently, Washington State receives less than the average reimbursements from federal Medicare coffers, and healthcare outcomes are better in Washington than many of the state's that receive more money.
Senator Patty Murray sponsored the MediFair Act, which Cantwell co-sponsored, that would balance reimbursement rates to states.
At the discussion in Seattle, Governor Gregoire told the crowd, "We have a healthcare crisis in America." Gregoire has spent the last week in Washington DC in meetings about healthcare reform, including with President Barack Obama.
Gregoire told the audience that in those meetings she said, "We need a comprehensive solution today."
For a timely and interesting perspective in opposition to a public plan, see Richard Davis's piece in today's Everett Herald: http://tinyurl.com/n7e9k5
Monday, June 8, 2009
Washington Basic Health Plan increasing rates
Washington State's Basic Health Plan will no longer cut 40,000 people, but will instead increase monthly rates by about $25 and increase the annual deductible from $150 to $250.
The original idea was to cut 40,000 people from the program to save the state $250 million dollars. Washington has had to cut programs to make up for the nearly $9 billion budget deficit.
The original idea was to cut 40,000 people from the program to save the state $250 million dollars. Washington has had to cut programs to make up for the nearly $9 billion budget deficit.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Washington Universal Vaccine Purchasing
After the passage of Washington State’s 2009-2011 biennial budget, the Childhood Vaccine Program was shifted from a universal program to one where children with private insurance will no longer be offered free vaccines.
On June 3rd, Representative Eileen Cody, who is the Chair of the House committee on Health Care & Wellness, said, "The bad thing we did was cut universal funding of [children’s] immunizations."
As of July 1st, 2009, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine will no longer be available to children. Even adolescent girls who are in the middle of the series will only be able to finish the series if their provider pays for it.
Further, no vaccines will be purchased by the state and given to children with private insurance.
As of May 1, 2010, all children with private insurance will be ineligible for state-funded vaccines.
Traditionally, insurance companies do not cover children’s vaccinations because the State has provided them, free of charge, to local physicians. Thus, vaccines are not included in standard healthcare coverage plans. The State purchases vaccinations for a reduced, bulk cost of just a few cents per vaccination. By eliminating the Universal Vaccine Program, Washington State physicians will be faced with the decision of providing vaccinations without compensation or to cease supplying vaccinations all together.
Vaccine-preventable diseases have reached record lows over the past several years. This is because of the great strides we, as a State, have taken to ensure that each child is guaranteed immunizations. Without those vaccines, long-term costs associated with vaccine-preventable diseases will skyrocket.
The more children who are not vaccinated, the more likely we are to see outbreaks of preventable diseases in our neighborhoods. Eliminating vaccination funding is more than an individual concern; it is a serious community health risk. Without these vaccinations, children will be left vulnerable to diseases like Whooping Cough, Polio, Meningitis, Diphtheria, and Chicken Pox.
From a near-term financial perspective, physicians are already being burdened with reduced reimbursement rates for state funded or subsidized health plans, making it more difficult to maintain independent practices and care for their most at-risk patients.
On June 3rd, Representative Eileen Cody, who is the Chair of the House committee on Health Care & Wellness, said, "The bad thing we did was cut universal funding of [children’s] immunizations."
As of July 1st, 2009, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine will no longer be available to children. Even adolescent girls who are in the middle of the series will only be able to finish the series if their provider pays for it.
Further, no vaccines will be purchased by the state and given to children with private insurance.
As of May 1, 2010, all children with private insurance will be ineligible for state-funded vaccines.
Traditionally, insurance companies do not cover children’s vaccinations because the State has provided them, free of charge, to local physicians. Thus, vaccines are not included in standard healthcare coverage plans. The State purchases vaccinations for a reduced, bulk cost of just a few cents per vaccination. By eliminating the Universal Vaccine Program, Washington State physicians will be faced with the decision of providing vaccinations without compensation or to cease supplying vaccinations all together.
Vaccine-preventable diseases have reached record lows over the past several years. This is because of the great strides we, as a State, have taken to ensure that each child is guaranteed immunizations. Without those vaccines, long-term costs associated with vaccine-preventable diseases will skyrocket.
The more children who are not vaccinated, the more likely we are to see outbreaks of preventable diseases in our neighborhoods. Eliminating vaccination funding is more than an individual concern; it is a serious community health risk. Without these vaccinations, children will be left vulnerable to diseases like Whooping Cough, Polio, Meningitis, Diphtheria, and Chicken Pox.
From a near-term financial perspective, physicians are already being burdened with reduced reimbursement rates for state funded or subsidized health plans, making it more difficult to maintain independent practices and care for their most at-risk patients.
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