HEALTHCARE REFORM Call to Action

1
HEALTHCARE REFORMCall to Action

• Katherine Scheirman, MD, MHA

2
DEFINING ISSUE

• For President Obama
• For Democrats

3
Ammunition You Need

• Facts
• v.
• Myths Scare Tactics

4
1. Whats Wrong2. HC Reform - Issues3.
Obstacles to Change4. What You Can Do
5
Whats Wrong with Our Current Health Care System
?

• Great doctors, nurses and hospitals
• Incentives wrong
• Sick care not Health Care
• Technology
• Not used effectively to improve care
• Has increased costs

6
Whats Wrong with Our Current Health Care System
?

• Free Market Hasnt Worked for HC
• Most expensive in world
• Inefficient
• Quality is variable
• Access is limited
• Insurance tied to job

7
How Bad Is It?

• Uninsured - OK 22 (US19)
• 70 in families with 1 full-time worker
• Under-insured millions
• 54 Oklahomans covered by employer
• 39 of Oklahoma small business
• Choices limited in Oklahoma
• BCBS OK - 45 market share
• Top 2 71 all insurance
• Little choice for anyone w/ pre-existing
  condition

8
How Bad Is It?

• OKLA
• Average Family Premium
• Annual earning of full-time minimum wage job
• Increased 77 since 2000
• USA
• 37 in health system performance
• 72 in overall population health
• 60 US bankruptcies due to medical bills
• 3/4 had insurance

9
Healthcare Costs

• Costs rising at 2 X the inflation rate
• For past 40 years
• Medicare and Medicaid
• Individuals
• Business
• Especially small businesses
• Families

10
Bankrupting US
11
Were Paying Morebut Getting Less
12
President Obamas Principles

• Reduce Costs Rising health care costs are
  crushing the budgets of governments, businesses,
  individuals and families and they must be brought
  under control
• Guarantee Choice Americans must have the
  freedom to keep whatever doctor and health care
  plan they have, or to select a new doctor or
  health care plan if they choose
• Ensure Affordable Care for All All Americans
  must have quality and affordable health care

13
Prescription for Change

• Choice
• Simple
• Cover everyone
• Affordable
• Payment reform
• Comparative effectiveness research
• Health IT
• More primary care

14
Critical Issues

• Public option
• Paying for reform
• National Healthcare Exchanges
• Mandates
• Individual
• Business

15
Quality affordable public health insurance option
aka Public Plan

• The Major Issue
• Would give uninsured or those unhappy w/
  insurance company a choice to buy in to a
  government-run plan
• Similar to Medicare
• Would cut costs
• Patients (23)
• Govt

16
Quality affordable public health insurance
17
Obstacles to Change

• Republicans
• Senate
• American People v. Health Insurance
• Industry (1.4 M per day lobbying)
• Insurance companies
• Some highly-paid specialties
• (AMA)
• Chamber of Commerce

18
Myths Scare Tactics

• Wont benefit people who have insurance
• Government-run healthcare
• Socialized medicine
• Bureaucrat between Dr. and patient
• Rationing
• Public plan would drive insurance
• companies out of business
• 7. Medicare savings will hurt older patients

19
Bottom Line

• Its time to stop playing politics and solve the
  health care crisis
• Quality, affordable health care for all
• Choice of keeping your current plan and doctor
  or a public plan
• No triggers
• Available to everyone
• No more insurance company abuses
• Peace of mind
• Security
• A uniquely American solution

20
What You Can Do

• Share your ideas and stories at
  http//www.healthreform.gov/
• Counter the myths with friends, family and
  everyone you know
• Call your senators and congressmen
• Support CHOICE of an affordable public health
  insurance plan option for all
• Support a strong national health insurance
  exchange
• Write letters to editor

21
What You Can Do

• Call or write to President Obama
• The White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
  NWWashington, DC 20500202-456-1111
• Call in to talk shows
• Friends Family in Critical States?
• Senate Republicans
• Maine - Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins
• Iowa - Chuck Grassley

22
What You Can Do

• Friends Family in Critical States?
• Senate Democrats
• California - Dianne Feinstein (CA)
• Arkansas - Blanche Lincoln Mark Pryor
• S. Dakota Tim Johnson
• Louisiana - Mary Landrieu
• Montana Max Baucus
• N Dakota Kent Conrad
• Indiana Evan Bayh
• Nebraska Ben Nelson

23
What You Can Do

• Stay up to date at
• Barackobama.com
• Healthreform.gov
• Whitehouse.gov
• Other resources
• AARP
• Consumer Reports
• StandwithDrDean.com

24
Questions?