HARTFORD, Conn., Jan.
8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Connecticut Health Insurance Policy
Council has released a detailed report to guide health care reform in
Connecticut. The Council was formed in July 2006 to study the state's
healthcare system and to create recommendations on how to improve that
system. The Council is comprised of state leaders from the major
business associations and chambers of commerce, small and large
employers, health insurance and healthcare companies. (Members listed below).
The
report puts forth an ambitious 10-point policy framework and reform
goals for Connecticut. The Council is proposing that the public and
private sectors work together to have Connecticut:
1.
Become the healthiest state in America by 2020; "Number One" nationally
for the lowest rates of smoking and obesity within five years.
2. Make our health care system a source of economic vitality and a
competitive advantage for Connecticut compared to other states.
Institute reforms so our health care and insurance costs trend below
the average of other states, and we become leaders in deploying data
and technology to measure and improve health care cost-effectiveness
and quality in a way that is meaningful to consumers.
3. Reduce the percentage of uninsured citizens by half in three years, and move toward virtual 100% coverage over time.
Bob
Patricelli, Co-Chair of the Council and President & CEO of
Evolution Benefits & Women's Health USA, said "We believe these
three goals are achievable if we follow a policy driven by the 10-point
framework proposed in the report. These goals go beyond universal insurance coverage
to encompass broad-based health care reform, and will require the
active involvement of everyone, including consumers, providers,
businesses and the state government. We want Connecticut's health care
and health insurance systems to be a competitive advantage for the
state."
Mickey
Herbert, Co-Chair of the Council and President of ConnectiCare, said,
"Connecticut's health care system is unquestionably one of our nation's
best, but we know it can be even better than it is now. We have
assembled an impressive group of business leaders who have worked hard,
in an unprecedented fashion, to formulate a set of recommendations to
do just that. We clearly do not need, nor can we afford, to create a
whole new health care financing and delivery system. We look forward to
working with other interested parties to seize this special opportunity
to continue to improve our state's health care delivery system."
Meredith
Reuben, CEO, Eastern Bag and Paper Group and Chair of the Connecticut
Business and Industry Association (CBIA), said, "The report underscores
the importance of building on the strengths of our employer-based
health care benefits system. We should improve the cost effectiveness
of our existing system and provide more affordable benefit options for
small businesses and individuals."
Oz
Griebel, President & CEO of the MetroHartford Alliance, said,
"Healthcare reform is vital to the state's economic competitiveness and
our quality of life. We need to strengthen our overall framework so
that doctors, hospitals and health insurance companies can continue to
provide world class service to our citizens."
Chris
Bruhl, President & CEO of The Business Council of Fairfield County,
said, "Nationally, 75 percent of health care spending is on diseases
resulting from unhealthy lifestyles. As a society, we need to accept
that our health status is the main driver of health costs. Investment
in high quality prevention and chronic disease management programs will
benefit everyone's health and reduce the system's costs in the long
term. Heart disease, diabetes and asthma, for example, are all
manageable with better outcomes and at a lower cost than we now
achieve. Overall, there is too much treatment in the ER, instead of at
home or at a physician office."
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