Federal Healthcare Policy Options

The Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Senator Max Baucus, has release three reports outlining federal health care reform options. These reports outline what could be to come in healthcare in the Untied States.

Report 1: Transforming the Health Care Delivery System: Proposals to Improve Patient Care and Reduce Health Care Costs. Read the report here.


Report 2: Expanding Health Care Coverage: Proposals to Provide Affordable Coverage to All Americans. Read the report here.


Report 3: Financing Comprehensive Health Care Reform: Proposed Health System Savings and Revenue Options. Read the report here.

Senator Murray at Healthcare Rally May 30th in Seattle

Senator Patty Murray will give the keynote address tomorrow at 12:30 PM at the "Health Care for All in 2009 - Mothers Leading the Way" rally.

The Senator's press release states:

"Almost 200 organizations are co-sponsoring the event, and organizers expect thousands to attend from across Washington state.

Senator Murray is committed to reforming the health care system, and will discuss the need to enact real reform this year that brings quality, affordable health care to all."

The march will begin at 20th and E Yesler.

See you there!

King 5 Up Front conversation on healthcare reform

On Sunday, King 5 Up Front with Allen Schauffler focused on healthcare reform. Panelists on the show included State Senator Karen Keiser, who is THE expert in healthcare reform in the Washington State legislature, DJ Wilson, healthcare policy consultant and editor of the book "Dear Governor: About That Healthcare Crisis," and Dr. Roger Stark of the coservative Washington Policy Center.

Check out the 20 minute video here:
http://blogs.king5.com/upfront/archives/2009/05/what-should-be.html

The dicsussion is light, but outlines the progress of the debate well.

Swedish Hospital discussing adding stand-alone Emergency Room in Snohomish County

Swedish Medical Center is discussing putting in a stand-alone Emergency Room on the site of the Puget Park Drive-In Movie Theater off I-5 exit 186. This Emergency Room would sit between major local hospitals like Providence Everett Medical Center and Stevens Hospital. It would be 9 miles south of Providence Everett Medical Center and 9 miles north of Stevens Hospital in Edmonds.

The location is not on any public bus routes, making it less accessible to those without money for their own means of reliable transportation. Patients would also have to be driven to one of the other hospitals if they required a hospital stay. Given that, even patients who are closer to this emergency room than the others may be driven to the other hospitals to avoid having to transport them later for additional medical care.