Governor
Highlights Blueprint for Health Reforms
Praises Pending Omnibus Health Care Reform Bill
South Burlington, Vt. At
the fifth annual Vermont Blueprint for Health Conference March 25, Governor Jim
Douglas highlighted how Vermonts health care system is transforming from
the traditional care delivery to a patient-centered approach that focuses on
prevention and care for patients with chronic conditions. The Governor also
praised a health care reform bill currently pending in the House Health Care
Committee.
Initiated by Governor Jim Douglas, the Blueprint for Health is a
public-private partnership aimed at improving health care and reducing the
overall need for costly medical services. The conference was hosted by the
Vermont Department of Health and the University
of Vermont, College of Medicine.
The Blueprint for Health offers realistic, achievable,
sustainable and meaningful reforms of our health care system that everyone
agrees are necessaryreforms that will have a lasting and profoundly
positive affect on the lives and health of our fellow Vermonters,
Governor Douglas said. This program has continually evolved with
valuable input provided by physicians, nurses, educators, insurers and citizens
and we will continue to listen, learn and refine this innovative program, which
I hope will be duplicated in other parts of the country.
When fully implemented, this cutting-edge effort will transform Vermonts health
care delivery systemshifting it from a focus on acute care to a system
designed to more effectively care for and prevent costly chronic conditions.
Chronic conditionslike diabetes, cardiovascular disease and high
blood pressure are the leading cause of illness, disability and death.
They also constitute more than 80 percent of all health care spending.
Fifty-five percent of adult Vermonters have a chronic disease or condition.
Eighty-eight percent of the states population over the age of 65 must
manage one or more chronic condition.
Vermonts
new approach to healthcare is changing the way primary care providers operate
their practices, officials at the Vermont Department of Health added. Vermont is one of the
few states in the nation that is pushing ahead, through the Vermont Blueprint
for Health, toward a patient-centered medical home
model of care. At its core, the medical home is an ongoing
partnership between each person and a specially trained primary care physician.
This new model offers well-coordinated care that leverages
health information technology tools, enhances self-management, and is closely
aligned with chronic care prevention efforts, said Craig Jones, MD,
director of the Vermont Blueprint for Health. The Blueprint for Health
involves sweeping health reform and this conference provides us with an
opportunity to bring the key stakeholders together, share successes, review
progress and refine our plan.
GOVERNOR PRAISES HOUSE HEALTH CARE
COMMITTEE
While at the conference, the Governor also praised the House Health
Care Committee for their work on H.887, an omnibus health care reform bill for 2008.
Douglas said the bill
represents an important next step in the effort to make health
care more affordable and accessible for every Vermonter.
Were off to a strong beginning and Catamount Health Care
has put affordable health care within reach of uninsured Vermonters. More
than 4,000 previously uninsured Vermonters, with more enrolling every day, now
have insurance they can afford and can get the care they need, when they need
it, the Governor said. Even with these achievements, the cost
of insurance remains one of the chief barriers to prosperity and the peace of
mind Vermonters deserve and Im committed to moving ahead with
responsible reforms to reduce the cost of insurance for families and small
businesses in the long-term.
The Governor said the bill, which contains many of his recommendations
to the Legislature, is a platform for meaningful progress on health care reform
this year.
Among other items, the bill includes provisions to:
q Eliminate
the 75% rule that permits insurance companies to drop small businesses with
fewer than 75% of the employees covered under the employers plan should
be eliminated. Governor Douglas said this provision is unfair, hurts both the
employer and the employees who are left without insurance and puts additional
strain on government-sponsored programs.
q Make
health care coverage accessible to more young adults by allowing parents to
keep them on their plans longer.
q Enhance
the focus on chronic conditions and, as the Governor as proposed, focus on
prevention at the state, regional and community levels.
q Help
move forward on the development of the states health information
exchange network, a key to improved quality of care and cost control on health
care expenses.
With so many areas of agreement among usand the financial
security of so many families at stakewe must launch these additional reforms
this year, Governor Douglas said. And I appreciate the attention
the House has paid to this important issue.
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