LWVCT FALL CONFERENCE DECEMBER 5, 2009
South Congregational
Church, Hartford, Connecticut
SPEAKERS AT FALL CONFERENCE 2009, "HEALTH
CARE IN CONNECTICUT: WHAT'S NEXT?"
1. Hon. Nancy Wyman, Connecticut State Comptroller, who provided
valuable information on SustiNet
(Wikipedia information on
Sustinet), of which she is Co-Chair.
2. Ms. Carolyn
Salsgiver, Senior Vice President for Planning & Marketing,
Bridgeport Hospital, who
gave a most thoughtful
and informative talk (and a creative thought-sharing process during
Q&A);
3.. Elizabeth Rosenthal,
MD (Physicians for a National Health Plan)
roused the audience with her inspiring presentation from the
perspective of a practicing physician.
Moderator Kay Maxwell kept things moving, the audience had terrific
queries!
President of the LWVCT Jara Burnett pointed out that unfortunately the
planned insurance industry representative was unable to attend the
event, and thus the balance on the panel was askew; this resulted
in a less comprehensive set of viewpoints than League would ordinarily
provide, and thus she urged those present to be sure to find out
about other views.
For background regarding why and how
the League has studied Health Care, please click
here.
TOP: Gray Hall, site of the Conference; CENTER:
Hon. Nancy Wyman, Comptroller, State of Connecticut; Lyn
Salsgiver, Senior Vice President, Planning and Marketing, Bridgeport
Hospital; Elizabeth Rosenthal, MD, Physicians for a National
Health Plan. BOTTOM: President of the
LWVCT Jara Burnett; Kay Maxwell, moderator.
W A T C H T H I S I M P O R T
A N T D I S C U S S I O N N O W ! ! !
LWVCT FALL CONFERENCE
DECEMBER 5, 2009 VIDEO NOW ONLINE HERE:
Health Care: The League’s History
In 1990, the
LWVUS undertook a two-year study of the funding and delivery of health
care in the United States. Phase 1 studied the delivery and policy
goals of the U.S. health care system; Phase 2 focused on health care
financing and administration. The LWVUS announced its initial health
care position in April 1992 and the final position in April 1993.
The health care
position outlines the goals the LWVUS believes are fundamental for U.S.
health care policy. These include policies that promote access to a
basic level of quality care at an affordable cost for all U.S.
residents and strong cost-control mechanisms to ensure the efficient
and economical delivery of care. The Meeting Basic Human Needs position
also addresses access to health care.
The health care
position enumerates services League members believe are of highest
priority for a basic level of quality care: the prevention of disease,
health promotion and education, primary care (including prenatal and
reproductive health care), acute care, long-term care and mental health
care. Dental, vision and hearing care are recognized as important
services but of lower priority when measured against the added cost
involved. Comments from numerous state and local Leagues, however,
emphasized that these services are essential for children.
To achieve more
equitable distribution of services, the League endorses increasing the
availability of resources in medically underserved areas, training
providers in needed fields of care, standardizing the services provided
under publicly funded health care programs and insurance reforms.
The LWVUS
health care position includes support for strong mechanisms to contain
rising health care costs. Particular methods to promote the efficient
and economical delivery of care in the United States include regional
planning for the allocation of resources, reducing administrative
costs, reforming the malpractice system, copayments and deductibles,
and managed care. In accordance with the position’s call for health
care at an affordable cost, copayments and deductibles are acceptable
cost containment mechanisms only if they are based on an individual’s
ability to pay. In addition, cost containment mechanisms should not
interfere with the delivery of quality health care.
The position
calls for a national health insurance plan financed through general
taxes, commonly known as the “single-payer” approach. The position also
supports an employer-based system that provides universal access to
health care as an important step toward a national health insurance
plan. The League opposes a strictly private market-based model of
financing the health care system. With regard to administration of the
U.S. health care system, the League supports a combination of private
and public sectors or a combination of federal, state and/or regional
agencies. The League supports a general income tax increase to finance
national health care reform.
The LWVUS
strongly believes that should the allocation of resources become
necessary to reform the U.S. health care system, the ability of a
patient to pay for services should not be a consideration. In
determining how health care resources should be allocated, the League
emphasizes the consideration of the following factors, taken together:
the urgency of the medical condition, the life expectancy of the
patient, the expected outcome of the treatment, the cost of the
procedure, the duration of care, the quality of life of the patient
after the treatment, and the wishes of the patient and the family.
As the LWVUS
was completing Phase 2 of the study, the issue of health care reform
was rising to the top of the country’s legislative agenda. In April
1993, as soon as the study results were announced, the LWVUS met with
White House Health Care officials to present the results of the
League’s position. Since then, the League has actively participated in
the health care debate.
The LWVUS
testified in fall 1993 before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on
Health, the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Education and Labor
Committee, calling for comprehensive health care reform based on the
League position. The League joined two coalitions—one comprised of
consumer, business, labor, provider and senior groups working for
comprehensive health care reform, and the other comprised of groups
supporting the single-payer approach to health care reform.
Throughout
1994, the League actively lobbied in support of comprehensive reform,
including universal coverage, cost containment, single-payer or
employer mandate and a strong benefits package. The League continued to
advocate for the inclusion of the state single-payer option in any
health care package and emphasized LWVUS support for the inclusion of
reproductive health care, including abortion, in any health benefits
package. League leaders participated in countless lobbying visits in
Washington, held grassroots meetings with members of Congress and spoke
out in the media.
Health care
reform advocates, including the League, continued to press for
comprehensive health care reform through September 1994. But
congressional sponsors were unable to reach accord, and comprehensive
reform was declared dead for the 104th Congress. The focus then shifted
to the states, where Leagues have worked in support of health care
reform, while fighting off attempts to cut back on existing health care.
The LWVEF
initiated community education efforts on health care issues with the
“Understanding Health Care Policy Project” in the early 1990s. The
project provided training and resources for Leagues to conduct
broad-based community outreach and education on health care policy
issues with the goal of expanding community participation in the debate.
In spring 1994,
the LWVEF and the Kaiser Family Foundation undertook a major citizen
education effort, “Citizen’s Voice for Citizen’s Choice: A Campaign for
a Public Voice on Health Care Reform.” The project delivered objective
information on health care reform to millions of Americans across the
country. Local and state Leagues sponsored more than 60 town meetings
in major media markets nationwide, involving members of Congress and
other leading policy makers and analysts in health care discussions
with citizens. In September 1994, the LWVEF and the Kaiser Family
Foundation held a National Satellite Town Meeting on Health Care
Reform, with more than 200 downlink sites across the country. The two
organizations also undertook a major television advertising effort to
promote public participation in the health care debate.
In 1997, the
LWVUS joined 100 national, state and local organizations in
successfully urging Congress to pass strong bipartisan child health
care legislation. In 1998, the LWVUS began working for a Patients’ Bill
of Rights, aimed at giving Americans participating in managed care
health plans greater access to specialists without going through a
gatekeeper, the right to emergency room care using the “reasonably
prudent person” standard, a speedy appeals process when there is a
dispute with insurers and other rights.
Also in 1998,
the LWVEF again partnered with the Kaiser Family Foundation and state
and local Leagues on a citizen education project, this time focused on
Medicare reform, patients’ bill of rights and other health care issues.
In the first phase of the project, more than 6,500 citizens
participated in focus groups, community dialogues and public meetings.
Their views were reflected in How Americans Talk About Medicare Reform:
The Public Voice, presented to the National Bipartisan Commission on
the Future of Medicare in March 1999. The report emphasized that people
value Medicare but recognize its flaws. Fairness, responsibility,
efficiency and access were identified as important values for any
reforms of the Medicare system.
In spring 2000,
the LWVEF and KFF developed and distributed two guides, Join the
Debate: Your Guide to Health Issues in the 2000 Election and A Leader’s
Handbook for Holding Community Dialogues. The project focused on five
issues under debate in the election: the uninsured, managed care and
patients’ rights, Medicare reform, prescription drug coverage and
long-term care.
Throughout the
106th Congress, the LWVUS lobbied in support of a strong Patients’ Bill
of Rights. In July 1999, the Senate passed a watered-down version of
patients’ rights legislation opposed by the League. In October, the
House passed a strong, bipartisan bill that guaranteed basic health
care protections supported by the League. Despite several close votes
in 2000, however, Senate opponents continued to block passage of real
patient protection legislation. At Convention 2000, League delegates
lobbied their members of Congress to pass a strong, comprehensive
Patients’ Bill of Rights and send it to the President.
The League’s
efforts in support of passage of real patient protection legislation
continued throughout the 107th Congress. Delegates to Convention 2000
met with their Representatives and Senators in support of the Patients’
Bill of Rights, but the legislation was essentially shelved as Election
2000 drew near.
The LWVUS
lobbied federal lawmakers in support of the Bipartisan Patient
Protection Act of 2001, legislation that would provide patients with
administrative and legal recourse in dealing with insurers and Health
Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). Despite action in both the House and
Senate and pressure from the LWVUS and other health care advocates, the
legislation died in the conference committee that should have resolved
the differences between the two bills.
In the 108th
Congress, the League lobbied Congress in support of the Health Care
Access Resolution, which expressed congressional intent to begin the
debate on how to provide health care access to all. In November 2003,
the League opposed the Medicare Prescription Drug bill that was signed
into law by the President because its particular provisions undermined
universal coverage in Medicare.
In May 2006,
the League urged Senators to oppose the Health Insurance Marketplace
Modernization and Affordability Act (HIMMA). While this proposal
purported to expand healthcare coverage, it in fact limits critical
consumer protections provided in many states.
In 2007 and
2008, the League supported reauthorization of the State Children’s
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) which provided health care coverage to
six million low-income children in 2007. This support also included
encouraging Senators and Representatives to fully fund the program. The
legislation passed the House and Senate, but was vetoed by President
Bush
