HCCD Report Virginia 24211

Health Care Community Discussion Group Submission

General Questions:

• How many people attended your health care community discussion? There were five of us present. We invited 15, and several were interested, but the Holiday schedule prevented them from attending. A picture is attached.
• Please summarize compelling personal stories from attendees about the need for health care reform in our country and provide their contact information.

Tony’s 93 year old mother has to choose which medications to take every other day in order to make the prescription last two months, instead of one. Even with using this strategy her medications easily consume over half of her 1,000 dollar monthly income.

Kent’s daughter suffered a back injury during a sports activity which required an emergency room visit. They were there 2 ½ hours and the teenager had a CT scan. The bill was $7,000. The hospital initially did not bill insurance, so they only charged the family $3,500.

Rana was sent to physical therapy multiple times over the past three years. Generally, the co-pay for medical insurance is a nominal $35 per specialty visit. However, physical therapy is generally required 2-3 times a week. This quickly adds up to over $300 per month in out of pocket an expense each month which quickly becomes a budget issue.

Summary of Responses from Discussion Questions:

• What does the group perceive as the biggest problem in the health system?
  In the discussion, 4 out of 5 of us said that cost was the biggest problem.
  On the survey, 4 of us said cost of health care services was the biggest problem and one person choose the cost of health insurance (one more put cost of health insurance as the #2 problem)
• How do attendees choose a doctor or hospital? Where do attendees get information in making that decision? Most of us said that we choose a doctor or hospital by word of mouth. We also ask nurses and physicians for their opinions about where to go for health care.
• How should public policy promote quality health care providers? Public policy needs to promote transparency by making more information about health care providers easily accessible on the internet. Consumer satisfaction surveys conducted by independent companies would help. Insurance companies’ information would help. Hospital and clinic information regarding who the Doctor treats, number, severity, and outcome would help. Outcome measures need to be focused on quality of services, as well as quantity.
• Have attendees or their family members experienced difficulty paying medical bills?
  YES, most of us have had difficulty paying bills.
• How can policy makers address this problem? There are several things that could help.
  1. We could instituteTORT reform and put a cap on the outrageous sums of money requested in malpractice law suits.
  2. We could change the bankruptcy laws that do not allow medical bills to ever be forgiven.
  3. Consider revamping EMTALA. The mandate to provide care in the ER, rather than in the clinic, has forced the cost of emergency care to sky-rocket, creates scenarios where people are seriously ill prior to requesting treatment, and creates situations where hospitals may go bankrupt.
  4. Regulate the pharmaceutical industry and all vendors in order to curb expenses/costs.
  5. Standardize fees charged throughout a region.
  6. Make sure that insurance is portable throughout the country. (This way if your insurance is housed in one state and you are on an extended vacation in another state, you can still get the treatment you need, preventative or otherwise.)
• In addition to employer-based coverage, would the group like the option to purchase a private plan through an insurance-exchange or a public plan like Medicare?
  Kent had a friend in England who purchases a private plan because the national insurance plan does not provide good care, for example, waiting months for an appointment or not being able to get needed x-rays. We believe having options is always good. We discussed having a high risk group option.
• Did attendees know how much they or their employer pays for health insurance? What should employer’s role be in a reformed health care system?

  Some of us could immediately quote rates, some of us could not. NONE of us believe that employers should continue to be responsible. However, we want the money that the employer is paying for insurance to be placed into salary, so we can purchase insurance for ourselves, if employers opt out.

• Were attendees familiar with the types of preventive services Americans should receive?YES Had attendees gotten the recommended prevention? YES If not, how can public policy help?
  1. Tie lower cost of insurance into participating in recommended prevention.
  2. Cap the out-of-pocket expense or lower the co-pay for people who comply with recommended prevention services.
• How can public policy promote healthier lifestyles?
  1. Train children young: exercise, eat a good diet at lunch, no sodas in vending machines in public schools
  2. Make elevators/escalators for disabled people only in public buildings.
  3. Get rid of trans fat.
  4. Offer incentives/time to exercise.

Survey responses Summarized:
Question 1 was already reported out.
2. Four of us believed that surveys would be the best way to solicit ideas on reform and the fifth person thought that traditional town hall meetings would be best, followed by surveys.
3. All five of us believe that we need more information on solutions for health reform.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY!

What an incredible way to start a Presidency! Of the people and for the people…..

Respectfully Submitted,
Rana