West Virginia’s health care system could save over $1.1 billion by going digital and centralizing patient care, according to a first-of-its-kind report presented to lawmakers Monday.
Those savings would be seen not just by government agencies, but by private insurers and policyholders, who could benefit directly in the form of lower premiums.
The report should lend urgency to some initiatives that have already begun, like electronic medical records and prescriptions, according to the groups behind its creation.
“It really is remarkable to consider the savings available from options that are, basically, low-hanging fruit,” said Perry Bryant, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care.
Lawmakers with a joint interim committee that oversees health care policy responded Monday with cautious praise for the report.
“I think it’s very positive, and certainly provocative,” said House Health and Human Resources Chairman Don Perdue, D-Wayne. “It’s gratifying to see that once again, West Virginia is ahead of the game.”
The estimates in the report, prepared by CCRC Actuaries for the West Virginia Health Care Authority, used insurance claims data from more than 800,000 West Virginia residents, including people in public plans like Medicaid and private plans like Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Both the volume and the range of information make the report’s estimates uniquely valuable, Bryant said.
“I don’t know of any other state where private insurers have voluntarily pooled their data,” he said.
The three pieces of “low-hanging fruit” in the report are electronic prescribing, digital medical records and the so-called “medical home” concept of patient care, which prizes close relationships between patients and doctors to provide a broad spectrum of care.
West Virginia has already made steps to adopt these strategies, but the report’s estimates are based on their statewide implementation.
In the case of electronic prescriptions, the report estimates an overall savings of $164 million in 2014, including nearly $51 million in savings to private insurers and $42 million in savings to policyholders.After that, the fruit doesn’t hang quite so low. The report estimates that a statewide rollout of medical homes would cost about $45 million up front and incur ongoing costs of about $368 million.
When subtracted from the estimated 2014 savings of $643 million, though, that still means an overall break of roughly $274 million, with the report estimating that savings growing to nearly $2 billion in 2019.
The most difficult of the three measures to implement is a statewide system of electronic medical records. West Virginia has already installed digital record keeping systems at seven state hospitals, but getting private physicians on board is not so easy.
Estimates suggest that about nine in 10 health care offices still keep everything in paper. As the new report says, up front costs for physicians run from $25,000 to $45,000 and have annual costs thereafter of between $2,000 and $9,000, steep amounts for small practices.
If electronic medical records are adopted statewide in the next four years, though, the report estimates a savings of more than $317 million, including $85 million for private insurers and $84 million for policyholders.
Lawmakers at Monday’s interim meeting questioned whether the federal health care legislation in Congress might complicate the West Virginia efforts cited in the report.
“I’m concerned about the blending of the two,” Senate Health and Human Resources Chairman Roman Prezioso, D-Marion, told Bryant. “I’m glad to hear you say we’re ahead of the curve. I didn’t anticipate that.”
Bryant urged legislators to press ahead with the state’s initiatives, particularly the medical homes, whether or if something emerges from Capitol Hill.
Watch the video related
What is Social Anxiety Disorder? Is it simply a severe form of shyness? Join Dr. Granet as he talks with leading expert, Dr. Murray Stein, about this disorder that affects approximately 5% of the general population. Find out the symptoms and latest treatments that are available. Series: “Health Matters” [3/2007] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 12228]
Help answer the question
What is the difference between Health Insurance and Health care Program?
Is it OK to have just the health care program and not have the Health Insurance Plan? I can get Health care program for half the monthly premium as compared to the Health Insurance Plan. Please advise? Is it advisable?
health
Related topics :
::A Health Savings Account or Hsa Medical Plan Offers Significant Tax, Premium, & Retirement Savings
::Aetna Helps Consumer-Directed Health Plan Members Maximize Their Health Benefits
::Premium tax would hike health-insurance costs
::Guidelines for Health Risk Assessments (HRAs)
::Florida Health Insurance Rate Hikes and Quotes
i like health
but are you hitler man?
HEALTH is dope and if you can’t appreciate their sound then you’re probably not very musically adventureous and you should just go back to watching maroon 5 videos or something, get off this page bitch! jk….
http://www.everyonebenefits.com/12851363 this is a great ste for someone looking for low cost health programs.
i suppose you listen to some mainstream pop crud huh???
A. Public health looks at everyone from all over. We (I'm an epidemiologist) are concerned with things that may be coming down the pike and hit all of us (like bird flu, etc.). Community health mostly involves doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals that tailor interventions to a particular community's needs, and they generally don't plan out for "the bigger picture", although they do a heck a job in their locales, since they know it better.
The Robert Woods Johnson Foundation is a research think tank. They have all kinds of references to interesting research around health care and health reform. With a little digging, you may be able to contact some of the researchers.
WebMD is another useful source for anything and everything health care.
Centers for disease control and prevention, National Center for Health Statistics: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/
National Vital statistics system: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss
im not sure if there genuis or rubbish
Click here :
http://yfrog.com/5g21403615j
I have to agree with you.
sounds like they’re continually building up tension with no pay off.
yeah i guess i listen to everything from mainstream pop to alternative, metal, hard rock, classic rock, folk, rap, abstract, techno, elctronic, drum abnd bass, and this band, is by far the WORST check out my youtube page, i mean just because we disagree about this band being good doesnt mean we wont agree on other things. but yeah Health sucks a fat gonorea dick.
Originality and progression are what’s important in music, and these guys definitely have both. Bonus points for the kickass music video, one of the best ive seen in a long while.
thats probably not the best way to get someone to check out your page
i like this band because by far they are the most original sound i have heard in a while.
Well, if she's 40 and perfectly healthy, it's going to cost her about $500 a month to have a low/no deductible plan that covers checkups.
You BUY it on a month to month basis. If you want low monthly payments, you have to cut the coverage – like take a $10,000 deductible. Or higher. That would cut payments down to maybe $200 a month or less.
The older she is, the less healthy she is, the more it costs.
Your best bet, is to find a local, independent agent, who can help you balance cost with coverage.
Don't use computer with the charger plugged in unless it needs to be charged. Doing so will kill the battery in short order. Batteries are designed to be discharged and charged. Many say batteries have no memory which I dispute. Read several pages here and you'll find that most of the battery problems are from leaving the charger plugged in.