Center Project Director Jim Frogue speaks at JMI Health Care Forum
Jim Frogue spoke on two panels in Tallahassee, Florida on February 7th as part of the James Madison Institute’s “The Right Rx for Florida.” The event was held on the campus of Florida State University and attended by over 100 people, nearly half of them Florida state representatives. Senior policy staffers from the state legislature and governor’s office rounded out the crowd.
Jim’s first panel was entitled, “State Plans and Presidential Proposals.” He framed the presidential debate as broadly between advocates of transparent, incentive-based, consumer plans that reward smart choices by individuals on the one hand, and regulatory/price control regimes that limit supply in order to control demand, on the other hand. The former can lead to better health outcomes at sustainable cost. The latter can only lead to fewer choices of lower quality.
Jim’s second panel was, “Using Market-based Reforms to Improve Access, Cost, and Quality.” He started off by pointing out that each person’s health status is determined far more by choices and habits, than by access to specific health care services. Proper diet and regular, vigorous activity are central to good health. He also cited the highly successful Alegent Health employee health plan which has demonstrated remarkable increases in health status at dramatically reduced cost.
