MMA Viewpoint
Focus on Reform, Avoid Distractions
With the start of the 2008 legislative session barely a month away, health care reform discussions are in full swing.
The Minnesota Legislature and Gov. Tim Pawlenty charged several groups with making health care reform recommendations to the 2008 Legislature. MMA members have been involved in both the governor’s Health Care Transformation Task Force and in the Legislature’s Health Care Access Commission work groups, which began meeting this summer.
Thanks to physician participation, bipartisan support is building in the work groups and among lawmakers for ideas that the MMA introduced in its Physicians’ Plan for a Healthy Minnesota—health insurance for all Minnesotans, strengthening the public health system, helping to implement health information technology, emphasizing disease prevention, and supporting the medical home concept.
When the Legislature convenes in February, the MMA will push hard for comprehensive health care reform legislation. We will oppose initiatives that would distract from those efforts.
One potential distraction is a proposed constitutional amendment saying that every Minnesota resident has the right to health care and that it is the responsibility of the governor and the Legislature to guarantee affordable care. This idea was proposed last year and is still on the table.
The governor and the Legislature have the authority right now to accomplish reform that will result in affordable health care for all Minnesotans. There’s no need to get bogged down in a debate on the pros and cons of amending the constitution or arguing about whether or not health care is a right. If the constitutional amendment proposal were enacted, put on the ballot in November, and finally approved by voters, the Legislature would still have to decide how to reform health care in order to achieve universal coverage.
The MMA is urging lawmakers to focus on practical health care reform this session and require all Minnesotans to have insurance for essential health care services. As long as buying insurance is voluntary, we’ll never achieve universal coverage. Some people will always gamble on staying healthy and go without insurance. These people should be required to take responsibility for their health. Others really can’t afford insurance and will need subsidies. To make sure people can comply with the requirement, insurers must be required to offer insurance to anyone who applies for the essential health plan regardless of their medical history.
In the long run, universal coverage will reduce health care costs and result in a healthier population. If everyone has health insurance, risk will be spread out, and coverage will be more affordable.
Legislators don’t need a constitutional amendment to move forward on these and other ideas. Funding should be provided to help small practices in rural Minnesota purchase health information technology that can reduce medical mistakes and lower administrative costs. Payment should be provided for care coordination—the medical home concept. This is especially important for people with chronic disease, as it can result in fewer painful and expensive complications. The public health system should be strengthened and funds provided for disease prevention projects such as encouraging community planning that fosters active lifestyles.
Legislators are talking about these health care reform ideas. Trying to pass a bill to amend the constitution while such positive discussion is taking place could divide policymakers. Instead of encouraging them to debate a new amendment, we’re telling them: Let’s act now!