Page 5 - REPORT Brinkman 20-MAR Healthcare Roundtable

Selection 1: We need to improve access to healthcare
The ideas from the group included:

Possible Action Possible way to measure effectiveness

Mobile vans to provide healthcare to (1) Use of the vans, (2) reduction in disease /
underserved areas. emergency room etc.
Transportation for elderly to appointments. Question: Is this already a service offered?
Allow more choice (less mandated elements / Coverage increases.
allow more HSAs).
Pre-natal and postnatal nurse visits. (1) Reduce SIDs, (2) healthier babies
Question: Is this available / provided already for
many?
Clinics in schools for primary care / prevention. More primary care visits.

Expand Medicaid eligibility. Increased % of people "covered."
Marketing program to educate and inform. Have some back-end survey to assess awareness and
measure increases.

Of the ideas put forward, there is some analysis (and perspective from Rep. Brinkman):

• Several involve investment in medical professionals (who may not be available, for example, to
start school primary care clinics), or new resources (ex: people to drive elderly to
appointments).
• Medicaid has already been expanded. It is not likely there is any appetite (ex: money) for
additional expansion. In fact, the costs associated with the expansion already are a concern for
many.
• Educating and testing improvement in awareness of services is something that could be acted
upon and improve the use of existing programs.
• Allowing more flexibility in plans (to the degree it can be done at a State level) could be
actionable and increase access.

Interesting side thought: Today we think about healthcare insurance in terms of covered and not-
covered procedures vs. more simply as coverage of expenses to certain limits beyond a deductible
amount (like most of what we otherwise think of as insurance). In areas such as auto insurance, states
set simple minimums. In healthcare, however, there has been a temptation to define broader lists of
specifically required services to be included. How might that impact the number of providers in a
market or choice and what is the responsibility of the individual to pick from options (vs. have the state
determine which options they must have)?

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