HealthcareWA is pleased to announce that Bryan Bissell has joined our ranks as a Contributor to HealthcareWA.
Bryan was a primary source of political insight in Washington during the 2008 election when he ran – basically all by himself – politickerWA.com, a political news site. He has also written for the Huffington Post and The Stranger magazine.
We think he’s a pretty good “get” – and will bring a great eye to healthcare reporting and intelligence from inside Olympia.
You can read a little more about him here and drop him a note here.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Archive for October, 2009
Bryan Bissell joins HealthcareWA
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009House Democrats Reach Deal on Healthcare Reform
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
After months of deliberations, the House Democrats have put together a healthcare bill that looks to bring real reform to the system. The bill is set to be formally announced on Thursday morning.
After months of talk on health care reform, many want to know what the substance of the bill is. The AP has the story:
The final product in the House, reflecting many of President Barack Obama’s priorities, includes new requirements for employers to offer insurance to their workers or face penalties, fines on Americans who don’t purchase coverage and subsidies to help lower-income people do so. Insurance companies would face new prohibitions against charging much more to older people or denying coverage to people with health conditions.
The price tag, topping $1 trillion over 10 years, would be paid for by taxing high-income people and cutting some $500 billion in payments to Medicare providers. The legislation would extend health coverage to around 95 percent of Americans.
Members of Congress hope to have the bill completed by November 11th, bringing healthcare reform a step closer.
New poll suggests 1033 race closer than expected
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009A new poll done by UW researchers suggests 49% of likely voters statewide are opposed to Initiative 1033 and 40% support the initiative with 10% undecided.
Among those surveyed in the Washington Poll who had already sent in their ballots, 56% said they voted “No” and 44% said they voted “Yes.”
Assuming Secretary of State Sam Reed’s prediction of 51% turnout, about 22% of voters in King County have already voted, and about 28% of voters in Snohomish County have already voted.
The poll showed 57% of respondents voting to “Approve” Referendum 71 and only 38% voting to “Reject” it.
The poll was based on interviews with 724 registered voters statewide, with a margin of error of 3.6%. Respondents were asked about Initiative 1033 first in each interview, meaning any priming effect, while unlikely, would have affected Referendum 71 results and not Initiative 1033 results.
These results constitute great news for supporters of state subsidized healthcare plans like the Basic Health Plan, which currently provides reduced cost health insurance for 103,687 low-income Washingtonians and children. Though, according to Health Care Authority estimates, that number could be reduced to 67,000 in 2010 at a cost of $234.16 per life, per month.
Passage of Initiative 1033 would almost surely mean further cuts to state subsidized programs like the Basic Health Plan. It would also mean long-term increases in healthcare costs to Washington taxpayers because (1) uninsured Washingtonians will be forced to visit emergency rooms for their medical needs, which is far more expensive than clinical visits, and (2) insurers negotiate with hospitals for better rates per procedure, and uninsured people have to pay the “ticket” price for procedures (which often means a difference of thousands of dollars). Again, those bills for uninsured Washingtonians are paid for by Washington taxpayers.
HHS Secretary Sebelius unveils report on rural America and health insurance reform
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Senator Kay Hagan Unveil New Report on Rural America and Health Insurance Reform
Today, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina held a conference call to discuss a new report, More Choices, Better Coverage: Health Insurance Reform and Rural America. The report examines the health care status quo in rural communities and the importance of enacting health insurance reform. It is available online at www.HealthReform.gov.
“Americans who live in rural communities have a harder time finding the doctor they need and getting the care they deserve and their health suffers” said Sebelius. “Americans in rural communities also face some of the nation’s highest rates of obesity and high blood pressure and they struggle to get affordable health care. Reform will improve access to high quality care in rural communities and help give all Americans the stable, secure care they need.”
“People in rural North Carolina and rural America are more likely to be uninsured and have more difficulty accessing health care,” Hagan said. “Rural areas in North Carolina have a 33 percent higher mortality rate from diabetes and a 60 percent higher mortality rate from heart disease. Health care reform will improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of health care for people across rural America.
(more…)
Lieberman to Join Republican Filibuster
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
The Democrat-turned-Independent Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) has announced his opposition to current Senate healthcare legislation and will join Senate Republicans in stopping a final vote on the legislation.
Lieberman, a Connecticut independent who caucuses with the Democrats, told reporters Tuesday that he would vote in favor of a procedural motion allowing debate of the bill. But he said that, unless the bill changes substantially, he would vote with Senate Republicans against a motion to allow a vote on final passage of the bill.
His opposition to the bill centers around its inclusion of a government-run health insurance plan that states could choose not to carry. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, (D., Nev.) announced Monday that he intended to include a public plan in Senate health-care legislation.
“I think that a lot of people may think that the public option is free. It’s not,” Lieberman said. “It’s going to cost the taxpayers and people that have health insurance now, and if it doesn’t, it’s going to add terribly to our national debt.”
Reid will need 60 senators to vote in favor of a motion to move to a vote on final passage to avoid a Republican filibuster. While there are 60 senators who are part of the Democratic caucus, including Lieberman, several moderate senators have expressed ambivalence about including a public option in the legislation.
Eyman to defend Initiative 1033 tonight
Monday, October 26th, 2009
Tim Eyman, 200 audience participants, broadcast to 125,000 households in Snohomish County – in one of the highest profile conversations in the region on this issue
“Civic Engagement,” a public affairs show hosted by DJ Wilson and broadcast on the Edmonds Community College cable channel 21/26, is organizing a ‘Town Hall-style’ forum on Initiative 1033. The event details are the following:
7:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm)
TONIGHT
October 26th, 2009
Black Box Theater at Edmonds Community College
20000 68th Ave West
Lynnwood WA 98036
DJ Wilson, Managing Editor of healthcareWA, will interview Tim Eyman on Initiative 1033, his involvement in state politics, and the state of government today. AUDIENCE MEMBERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS.
DJ Wilson, who also serves as the President of the Edmonds City Council (Snohomish County’s second largest city), will press Eyman to defend Initiative 1033, particularly in light of the difficult state of local and state budgets.
Coming off of a strong forum two weeks prior on Referendum 71 , the Domestic Partnership Bill, “Civic Engagement” and healthcareWA are proud to be hosting another high profile discussion of statewide measures in Snohomish County. The Referendum 71 event was covered by every major local television outlet, and numerous local newspapers, including the Everett Herald. Watch KOMO 4 News coverage here.
The Black Box Theater, in which the Forum will be held, seats 200 people. Students and faculty are reserved 30 tickets. The remaining 170 seats are divided between advocates of the two sides of the issue. Tickets are free, but are required for entrance.
Political importance of Snohomish County:
The “Eyman initiatives,” from anti-discrimination laws (I-200) in 1998 to motor vehicle taxes (I-776) and performance audits (I-900), Snohomish County has been a strong indicator of election results on Eyman sponsored initiatives statewide.
In fact, 8 out of the 11 Eyman sponsored initiatives on the ballot statewide since 1998, Snohomish County has been within 2% points of the final statewide result, and within a range of 4% of the other 3. Public opinion in Snohomish County is a leading indicator of statewide electoral success.
For ticket information, call Jolee Cano at 425-361-2118 or email her at jolee@healthcareWA.com.
Read the full press release here.
Healthcare implications of Referendum 71
Friday, October 23rd, 2009This fall, healthcare is on the ballot in two statewide measures. Initiative 1033 and Referendum 71 both have important healthcare implications.
Approval or rejection of Referendum 71 would have an effect on how same sex couples are able to make determinations about who is allowed to make hospital visits.
Below is one perspective on those healthcare ramifications of Referendum 71 from Joe Mirabella, one of the panelists at healthcareWA’s recent forum on the referendum.
The ACLU sent a film crew around the state of Washington to gather stories of families that are protected by the domestic partnership law. Several of the couples discussed their need to care for one another because of medical issues. For example, Rose and Joe are a senior couple from a small Eastern Washington town, Evans. Rose had a brain tumor and Joe is able to care for her because of the domestic partnership law.
Cathlin and Avril are a same-sex domestic partnered couple from Clarkston, Washington. Cathlin was diagnosed with cancer recently. Her parents do not accept her relationship with Avril. Cathlin is having surgery in a couple of weeks and is concerned her parents would prevent Avril from being in the hospital room with her. Her domestic partnership allows Cathlin to choose who cares for her in this time of crisis.
This documentary project is so important at this critical time when basic laws that allow families to care for each other are at risk. Real people will be immediately effected by the results of the election. I hope you choose to vote approve on referendum 71 to keep the domestic partnership law.
Reject 71 campaign uses robo calls to reach voters
Friday, October 23rd, 2009Last night healthcareWA received this robo call from the Reject Referendum 71 campaign. Click the link to listen to the robo call.
Reject 71 Robo Call
healthcareWA sponsored a forum on Referendum 71 and the “Everything but Marriage Law” almost two weeks ago at Edmonds Community College.
On Monday healthcareWA will sponsor a forum on Initiative 1033 with Tim Eyman. For more information about this event, email Randy.
Everett Clinic opposes Public Option
Friday, October 23rd, 2009Yesterday, Everett Clinic CEO Richard Cooper wrote this letter to Representative Jay Inslee. The letter also went to Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Representative Rick Larsen.
Dear Representative Inslee:
We are writing to express our opposition to the “Public Option” proposal that is currently being considered in the U.S. House of Representatives. We are very concerned that the “Public Option” would pay the same rates as Medicare. Our experience is that Medicare rates are not sufficient to cover the costs of providing care.
As you know, Medicare pays less in Washington than it pays in other states. Providers in our state are penalized because we deliver care more efficiently.
The Everett Clinic cares for more than 28,000 Medicare patients and we just completed an independent review of our Medicare finances. Under the original Medicare fee-for-service model, we lose $464 per patient each year. This year we are projecting a loss of approximately $11.7 million treating Medicare patients. With anticipated growth in the Medicare population, it is estimated that the loss will grow to $70 million over the next five years. If these same rates are also applied to a segment of our private insurance customers, it will have a devastating effect on our bottom line and our ability to care for patients.
Under the current system, the commercial insurers in our state subsidize Medicare payments by up to 40 percent. This subsidy is essential for us continue to care for our Medicare patients. If in addition payments for private pay patients are lowered to the level currently paid for Medicare patients in Washington, the entire healthcare financing system in our state will be permanently damaged. Patients will find it difficult to access care as providers struggle to keep their doors open.
As you are aware, The Everett Clinic, along with others in our area, have received national recognition for providing high-quality, low-cost care. We believe there are ways to improve healthcare that do not involve a radical overhaul of the entire healthcare system. Instead, there should be a concerted effort to implement proven measures that will reduce costs while improving care.
Thank you for the opportunity to share our views. We look forward to discussing this issue further at your earliest convenience.
Richard H. Cooper
Chief Executive Officer
H1N1: When Public Health Meets Public Policy
Thursday, October 22nd, 2009According to a recent Washington Post-ABC News Poll, 52% of Americans are worried that they, or someone close to them, will contract the H1N1 virus (a.k.a. “swine flu”) – up from 39% in August. However, only one third of Americans plan to get the H1N1 vaccine this year, and 52% of parents plan to vaccinate their children. Out of those parents who would not vaccinate their children, 53% said it is because they worry that the vaccine has not been thoroughly tested and thus it could have negative side effects.The Washington Post offers this analysis of the poll results:
The findings illustrate the dueling challenges the federal government faces in its unprecedented effort to protect Americans against the first influenza pandemic in more than four decades. Federal officials have spent at least $2 billion to buy enough vaccine to inoculate at least half the population and pledged to provide the immunization to everyone who wants it.
But vaccine production has lagged behind projections, leaving public health officials scrambling to allocate the limited doses available and frustrating some anxious parents and other people waiting to be immunized. At the same time, there is still a long way to go in federal efforts to convince people of the necessity and safety of the vaccine.
While the cases of H1N1 continue to grow, there is pressure put on the Federal Government to find a vaccination, while at the same the public wants to be assured that the vaccination has been thoroughly studied and tested enough to determine its safety and side effects. Government officials seem optimistic that there is a safe solution:
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano assured the senators that everything is being done as quickly as possible to produce and distribute antiviral drugs and vaccine.
“There will be enough vaccine for every American who wants to be vaccinated,” Sebelius said, repeating reassurances that the vaccine is safe.
Read the entire Washington Post article here.