Momentum Must Not Waver

Author : Toni Bigby

Consumer Advocacy at CareSource Over 11 years of experience working with Ohio’s Medicaid program promoting the importance and availability of health care coverage for Ohio’s underserved populations; Responsible for working with statewide consumer advocacy groups to advance key initiatives to provide value-added benefits to CareSource members; Charged with engaging members to bring their voice to the forefront to inform internal business operations

Jan 26th, 2010 | by Toni Bigby

There’s really only one thing that worries me about the Massachusetts election. I’m not troubled by the fact that the Democrats lost filibuster-proof control of the Senate. Control shifts back and forth as often as who is going to host the Tonight Show on NBC.

It doesn’t worry me that Senator Elect Scott Brown will try to block any potential of health care reform. We’ve come too far over the past year…really over the past half century…to turn back now.
I’m also not concerned that the Democrats will try to force through a health care reform policy -just to get it done. Forcing through policy doesn’t always go over well to voters in an election year – especially those with long-term memories. However, a recent poll by the Kaiser Foundation indicates the American public, including skeptics, become more supportive of health care reform after being told about many of the major provisions in the bills.

But what is worrisome…troubling…concerning to me is that momentum will waver, and the true ideals of health care reform will be lost. We must be sure the following elements of health care reform stay in place:

• Increase Medicaid eligibility – whether its 133% or 150% (which I would prefer), we need to make sure reform protects our most vulnerable citizens
• Protect our children – CHIP programs work…that’s why so many of our policy-makers rose to the occasion to protect in the current bills – Sen. Casey, Sen. Rockefeller, Sen. Reid, etc.
• Affordable Coverage for All – Don’t let purchasing health insurance be burdensome to the majority – continue with plans to provide government assistance through subsidies to those under 400% of the national poverty level
• Use of a state based health care exchange to act as a transparent clearinghouse for consumers to purchase coverage
• Cost containment to bend the unsustainable curve of health care costs
• Medicare & Medicaid benefit integration and financing for dual eligibles within a managed care model to rebalance the long-term care system to increase use of home and community based support services. Shifting more of this high-need population into coordinated managed care arrangements could produce significant savings while ensuring options for consumers where they desire to reside.

Sure, CareSource is a non-profit health plan that believes there is always room for improvement, but we support health care reform. Give non-profits wider opportunities to control costs, enable insurance companies to accept anyone with pre-existing conditions, include an individual mandate so that we all pay our fair share and, reimburse for positive outcomes, etc.
So to do my part in making sure Congress knows that I don’t want the momentum to subside in Washington, I used this source to send Congress – and my local newspapers – a letter:
http://www.progressohio.org/page/speakout/deliverchange
This one is for Ohio citizens…but if you live outside of Ohio, you can go to FamiliesUSA to send your own letter to Congress.

Please let Congress know that we cannot afford to take our eye off the goal just because of one election. We must move forward with health care reform. Our country deserves it.