Organizing for America | Rick Shoup's Blog: Why Senator Obama’s Health Plan is Good for Alaskan Seniors

Why Senator Obama’s Health Plan is Good for Alaskan Seniors

By Rick Shoup-Policy - Oct 30th, 2008 at 4:38 pm EDT

Also listed in: New England Healthcare Community for Obama | Veterans for Obama

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Printed in October2008 Senior Voice, Anchorage, Alaska

Alaskans, like others across the country, know that health care costs too much and is not available to everyone who needs it. There are not enough doctors, nurses and other health care professionals to treat every patient requiring care and many Alaskan seniors on Medicare are unable to receive any care at all in their state. This is a very serious situation and the result of low reimbursement rate from Medicare as well as the lack of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals in the state. As a result many Alaska seniors are forced to leave to get the care they need and deserve. Obama’s plan will lead to more effective utilization and practice patterns which will help providers financially and create a platform for more effective care delivery and reimbursement. Barack Obama believes that every American has the right to health care coverage that is affordable, comprehensive and portable. This requires that we must dramatically redesign our health system to reduce waste, improve efficiency and quality which will drive down costs for families and individuals. Barack Obama has a detailed plan that will dramatically improve the health care system in the U.S. in stark contrast to the “free market” solution proposed by Senator McCain and Governor Palin. Specifically, for Alaskans seniors, Barack Obama’s health plan will ensure that there will be enough health care providers available to treat you by offering additional financial support to medical education. The Obama plan expressly supports expanded funding for loan repayment, adequate reimbursement, grants for training and workforce initiatives to expand the supply, quality and pay of the health workforce. Many states including Alaska have been slow to increase the size of medical school enrollments and consequently are behind others. The bill Senator Johnny Ellis cross sponsored to double the number of medical school slots was a strong first step but significant increases in the number of seats available to train health care professionals are still required. The Obama Health Plan supports flexible state expansions in Medicaid and SCHIP as opposed to Republican administrations which talk flexibility and state support but then hold the states back from their most innovative plans for the uninsured. As states expand their programs, they focus on raising payment rates to providers in these public insurance plans that cover millions of state residents. Only a national government under Obama will support real “flexibility” in expanding public insurance options to support Alaskans. More funding is also necessary for community health centers in Alaska to support those Medicare patients who have been unable to receive their care in the community. For the first time during the past legislative session, Alaska provided some funding for federally supported community health centers but again, significantly more funds are needed. Obama’s health plan supports expanding the capacity of safety-net institutions such as disproportionate care hospitals, critical access hospitals, rural hospitals in underserved communities and community health centers Rates of chronic diseases, often associated with seniors, have increased dramatically in the past 20 years. With proper care, the onset and progression of these diseases can be contained for many years. In addition to the unnecessary suffering and early death that chronic disease can cause, these conditions cost an unbelievable $1.7 trillion annually. Obama will support providers to put in place care management programs and encourage team care through implementation of medical home type models resulting in improved coordination and integration of care of those with chronic conditions. Overall, these programs will incent providers to improve the quality of care you receive as well as lower costs The second fastest growing type of health expense is prescription drugs. Pharmaceutical companies should profit when their research and development results in bringing new innovative drugs to the market. Unfortunately, some companies are exploiting Americans by dramatically overcharging customers in the U.S. These companies are selling the same drugs in Europe and Canada but charging Americans a 67% premium. Senator Obama will allow all Americans to buy their medications from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and the prices are lower outside the U.S. His health plan will also increase the use of generic drugs and prohibit large drug companies from keeping generics out of the markets. The bottom line is that your prescription medication costs will also be reduced because of Obama’s plan to increase competition in the insurance and drug markets. The 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act (Medicare Part D) bans the government from negotiating down the prices of prescription drugs, even though the Department of Veterans Affairs’ negotiation of prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies has resulted in significant savings for taxpayers. Obama will repeal the ban on direct negotiation with drug companies and use the resulting savings, which could be as high as $30 billion, to further invest in improving health care coverage and quality. The “donut hole” that currently exists in Medicare Part D will go away under the Obama plan. Barack Obama’s health plan will modernize the U.S. health care system to contain spiraling health care costs and improve the quality and access to patient care while promoting prevention and public health. The benefits of an Obama health plan will support the seniors in Alaska as well as all Americans. Senator Johnny Ellis is a member of the Alaska senateRick Shoup is a former resident of Juneau, Alaska and currently lives in Co

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