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.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
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
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