MMA Viewpoint
Who should lead the way?
Now is the time for physicians to take the lead on health care reform and find common ground with Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
This fall, the governor unveiled his proposal for health care reform in Minnesota, justifying his case for change with economic data. Pawlenty noted health care costs in Minnesota rise at a rate of nearly $300,000 per hour and that the average cost of health care per household is $11,000 a year, which is more than annual rent or mortgage payments for many Minnesotans. Furthermore, rising costs have forced health care premiums to grow three and a half times faster than wages during the past four years. No end is in sight, as experts predict more premium hikes in the future.
The governor’s ideas for stopping this cycle include use of health savings accounts, adopting uniform measures of quality, empowering consumers with information, upgrading information technology systems, streamlining regulations, and rewarding the best-performing health care providers. The governor’s call for change came on the heels of the Nov. 8, 2004, announcement by the United Health Foundation that Minnesota ranked as the healthiest state in the country.
The timing of these events could not have been better. They have set the stage for the MMA’s own road map for health care reform. Under the leadership of Judith Shank, M.D., a former MMA president, the MMA Health Care Reform Task Force has drafted its own recommendations for change, which were approved by the Board of Trustees on Jan. 22.
A dedicated group of physicians spent more than eight months creating this bold vision for the future of health care in Minnesota. The MMA proposal spells out the core concepts that address the underlying challenge of increasing value (ie, getting more services for our health care dollars) while improving the quality of care for Minnesotans. The MMA believes that improving value will allow us to meet our major reform goals simultaneously.
The task force’s model for reform is built on four interconnected features:
1. A strong public health system
2. A reformed market for medical insurance that delivers universal coverage
3. A reformed market for health care delivery that creates incentives for increasing value
4. Systems that fully support the delivery of high quality care.
The task force articulated a broad vision for health care in the state. The MMA plans to convene discussions with health care providers, health plans, government officials, business leaders, and other stakeholders to build support for the vision and fill in the details.
The MMA also will move forward immediately by supporting a stronger public health system, prevention initiatives, and market reforms that promote quality and value. During the 2005 legislative session, the MMA will pursue the report’s goals of universal health care coverage and improved public health by protecting the state’s health care safety net, supporting a $1 increase in the tobacco tax, and advocating for smoke-free workplaces. As Minnesota Medicine goes to press, the MMA is planning to present its plan for health care reform to the Senate Health and Family Security Committee. The MMA’s and the governor’s proposals now provide a platform for discussion. The MMA and the governor should focus on areas where they have common ground such as controlling costs and improving quality. Ultimately, doing what is best for each patient will continue to make Minnesota a healthy and economically vibrant place to live.