Although the Legislature is no longer in session, several senators and representatives, including myself, are hard at work this summer on one of our state's most critical issues: health care access.
Legislators, medical providers, and representatives from the medical insurance and business communities are meeting as part of the Legislative Commission on Health Care Access. Together, we are hammering out methods of achieving universal health care in our state.
Recommendations based on the commission's findings will be submitted to the full Legislature before next year's legislative session begins.
The commission has divided its work into seven subcommittees to focus on specific issues that limit access to health care in our state. I am the Senate co-chair of the largest of these subcommittees, Cost Containment. This subcommittee is charged with identifying health care costs and potential savings. This is a very ambitious goal with a very aggressive timeline - we must report to the full commission by the end of October.
During the first meeting of my subcommittee, we focused on developing a thorough understanding of the federal health care framework. Many of these guidelines constrain Minnesota's ability to come up with creative solutions to the health care crisis. In order for the commission to move forward as efficiently and productively as possible, we need to fully comprehend the federal system in place today.
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In future meetings, the Cost Containment Subcommittee will examine several key issues pertaining to costs and savings. We'll investigate how changes in laws, regulations, and reimbursement systems could result in better health. We'll develop a medical home model, aiming to improve individuals' personal health services. We will seek to improve the management of chronic conditions and look into how services can be improved in underserved rural areas. Most of all, we aim to develop a system where the patient is an equal partner in their health care.
I'm excited for the attention that is being given to health care access. I'm also very pleased with the new alliances that are being formed as more parties become aware of the health care crisis facing our state. People are starting to realize that the high costs of health care are dragging down our economy and real reform is needed to reverse this trend.
I look forward to my work on the subcommittee and commission through the remainder of the year. I will keep readers apprised on our discussions and recommendations, as access to health care is an issue that affects each and every Minnesotan.
Senator Tony Lourey can be contacted at (651) 296-0293, by e-mail at sen.tony.lourey@senate.mn , or by writing to: 205 State Capitol, St. Paul, MN 55155.
