Member Newsletter
May 2009
As healthcare reform continues to heat up on Capitol Hill, the Center for Health Transformation (CHT) has been busier than ever. This month’s e-newsletter provides you with a glimpse of the events and activities involving CHT and its members during the past month.
CHT Hosts Healthcare Meeting in Jefferson City, Missouri
From left: Daniel Mehan, President & CEO, Missouri Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Louise Probst, Executive Director, St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition; Amanda Heidemann, MD, Physician & EMR Medical Director, BJC Medical Group; Stephen Field, Healthcare Practice Leader, Object Computing, Inc.
On April 8, 2009, CHT hosted the Creating a 21st Century Intelligent Health System in Missouri event in Jefferson City, MO. The day focused on innovative ways to improve both health and healthcare throughout the state. CHT Founder Newt Gingrich was joined by several key leaders within the state including Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, Missouri House Speaker Ron Richard, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, Missouri Senate President Charlie Shields, and Director of Missouri Healthnet Dr. Ian McCaslin. This day-long event also included moderated panels amongst some of the region’s most transformational organizations. To read a full executive summary of the event >>
CHT Releases White Paper: Electronic Administration Could Save Healthcare System Billions
The Center for Health Transformation released its white paper, “Taking the Paper out of Paperwork: How Electronic Administration Can Save the U.S. Health System Billions,” which examines the potential cost savings and efficiencies to be gained from an electronic administration system.
The national dialogue on health information technology often fails to mention or consider the potential savings on the administrative side of healthcare.
The U.S. Healthcare Efficiency Index, launched by Emdeon, estimates that if the entire U.S. healthcare system moved from a paper-based and phone-based system to an electronic one, we could save $30 billion a year.
CHT Takes Stance on Government-Run Health Plan, Could Crowd Out Private Insurers
Members in Congress are pushing forward with a public healthcare option said to compete in the marketplace with private insurance. This plan will be government-run and financed by the taxpayers.
CHT anticipates that this public plan option could shift costs onto private patients and insurers, ultimately decaying into a Medicaid-style program. According to one study by the Lewin Group, of the 170 million individuals who currently have private insurance, 119 million of them will shift into the public insurance market. This evacuation from private to public will not only overwhelm an underfunded government plan, but also eventually cause commercial insurance to be crowded out of the market, unable to bear the financial burden. Read more >>
Project Director Wayne Oliver Writes Op-Ed: “Can Public Health Insurance Fix Healthcare?”
On April 23, 2009, CHT Project Director Wayne Oliver published the op-ed, “Can Public Health Insurance Fix Healthcare? Two Views.” Oliver took the stance that rather than competing with the private sector, the appropriate role of the government should be to create incentives for innovation through the private health insurance market rather than a public plan option. He also points out that plans must focus on prevention, wellness and effective disease management. Read more >>.
Modern Healthcare Names Four CHT Members "Most Powerful Women in Healthcare"
Congratulations to the following CHT members who were named the "Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Healthcare" by Modern Healthcare:
#1 - Angela Braly, President and CEO of WellPoint, Indianapolis
#14 - Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans
#17 - Rosemary Kennedy, Chief nursing informatics officer at Siemens Healthcare, Malvern, Pa
#18 - Michelle Molden, President and CEO of the Piedmont Heart Institute, Atlanta
To nominate an individual for Modern Healthcare's "100 Most Powerful Women in Healthcare List" by May 8 click here.
The Art of Transformation Now Narrated by Newt and Callista Gingrich
The Art of Transformation, written by CHT Founder Newt Gingrich and CEO Nancy Desmond, is a guide to planning and leading large-scale change, based on the authors' years of experience in politics, government and business.
Business guru Tom Peters called the book “a masterful text . . . an original yet pragmatic guide to transformation,” and Oprah’s Dr. Oz called it “a brilliant blueprint” and a “must-read for any leader.”
The audio version of The Art of Transformation narrated by Newt and Callista Gingrich is now available for purchase here.
