Yes, I know. I’m opening up a kettle of fish. ‘Health care reform.’ ‘ObamaCare.’ ‘Mandate.’ These phrases polarize and often shut down important communication. Political rhetoric aside, health care reform is a priority issue for people with disabilities and the health care and community organizations that fund and support them.
For these organizations, health care reform can’t happen soon enough. In fact, it’s been top of mind and being worked on by patients, state agencies, non-profit organizations, health care providers and payers for decades in the State of Minnesota. And, in spite of the often heated political talk of the past decade in Minnesota and nationally, health care reform has been inching its way into our community.
Health care reform matters to people with disabilities because:
- Too many people with disabilities who want to work are still unemployed, and because of this, aren’t able to take advantage of employer-based health insurance.
- Access issues, like transportation, often isolate people with disabilities, making it difficult to get to and from appointments or other community activities that increase health and independence.
- Cuts in public supports, including Medicare and Medicaid, make it more difficult for people with disabilities to afford co-pays for drugs and medical treatments. They often are forced to choose between taking medication or giving up their weekly fitness class because they simply can’t afford both.
- People with disabilities have historically been at the bottom of the health care food chain. The services they need to remain healthy are often pretty simple, but also not well reimbursed. But those simple things, if left unattended can evolve into expensive hospitalizations and health care treatments.
- New models of patient care found in health care reform legislation, such as ‘health care’ or ‘medical homes’ are proving they provide better care for patients with complex medical conditions at lower cost to the health care system. While still in early stages, these health care homes are showing fewer hospitalizations and better overall health and independence for people with disabilities.
- Having a disability is just more expensive. Features of federal health care reform, such as the CLASS Act, have the potential to help people with disabilities pay for long-term care costs currently not covered by other insurance or reimbursement plans.
A recent Star Tribune article by Jim Spencer showcases how, once again, Minnesota is ahead of the national curve on implementing health care reform measures. When insurance plans and health care systems agree and are working for change, perhaps it’s time we stop our chanting, pay attention to what’s working and do more of it.
Oops, and here’s a link to the PP article
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2011/03/17/minnesota-medical-assistance-managed-care-vs-fee-service?reprint=true
The Pioneer Press had a good article on the two major models of health care being tried with people with disabilities. Thankfully, there is a newer, third option — a health care or medical home. This new way to look at primary care for people with disabilities is a viable solution. In less than one year Courage Center’s Health Care Home has already witnessed great cost saving outcomes. But, there is upfront costs to get to the cost savings.
Thank you. Moreover, society as a whole benefits by enabling our members with disabilities to overcome barriers to leading productive, fulfilling lives. You are talking about cost effective ways to simply do the right thing.