Healthcare

LAAHU Sales Conference Hosts Legislative Panel on National Healthcare Reform
by Steven Crane

A lways witty, entertaining and humorous, Alan Katz was the host of a legislative panel made up of Herb Schultz, senior healthcare advisor to California Governor Schwarzenegger, Dr. Richard Corlin, past president of LACMA, CMA and AMA and Arnold Schaffer, Chairman of the Board for the California Hospital Association at LAAHU’s “Agents of Change” Sales Conference on May 19 at the Pasadena Convention Center.
   
So what insight did the panel share on the issues surrounding national healthcare reform? To help answer that question, we assembled a panel of our own—made up of attendees of the breakout session – and asked them to share with us what they learned. Did the legislative panel change or sway our panel’s views? Did they walk away feeling national healthcare reform was inevitable? Did they feel a government run program would unfairly compete with private carriers? While opinions varied, much like the answers to the questions being asked of the panelists, several themes did emerge.
Joe Navarro, marketing chair for LAAHU and Dean of the School of Success for Warner Pacific, acknowledged that he was “definitely a little concerned” about the ideas being tossed around in Washington D.C. “This is not a time to be complacent. We know what works and what doesn’t work in our healthcare delivery system. That said, our national, state and local associations of Health Underwriters have done a phenomenal job educating Congress. There will inevitably be some tweaks, but the system will likely remain much as it is today.”

Dede Kennedy-Simington, vice president of Polenzani Benefits & Insurance Services and Awards Chair for LAAHU also noted the important role NAHU and CAHU had played in shaping the panelists answers. “I was deeply gratified by how many times Herb Schultz referred to California’s reform package as having been greatly influenced by CAHU and the AHU members in the room. We’ve worked very hard the last 10 years to be at the table and it’s always good to hear from those crafting the legislation that our voice is valued and listened to.”

Katz, who moderated the panel, said that the panelists were all confident that comprehensive healthcare reform would be signed into law this year. He said that, while they acknowledged the challenges and controversies, they also expressed confidence that President Obama had the political savvy to harness the public’s mood and push a plan through this year. However, whatever changes are made will not necessarily include a national plan. “They were far less certain that a government-run plan would be created to compete with private carriers. The panelists also agreed that federal reform would establish a floor and that states would have the right to enact additional challenges.”
Ken Doyle, President of LAAHU and director of Marketing for Warner Pacific believes that, while the panel did seem to agree that change was eminent, it was also in agreement on one other very important thing, “You can’t just remove a bunch of spokes and still expect the wheel to work. That’s not to say there isn’t any room for improvement, but a lot of players are involved and it’s not that easy to just get reform passed.” He also believes that everyone involved in the healthcare equation—consumers, providers, producers, pharmaceuticals and insurance companies – has an impact on each other and an important stake in how and what healthcare reform would look like. “This is a great time to stay connected to Health Underwriters. Our lobbying voice is louder and stronger than it has ever been. Just the fact that we’ve been invited to the table and asked to share our opinions shows the incredible strides that we’ve made.”

On the topic of reform, Lloyd Baum, vice president of Legislation for LAAHU, believed the forum clearly presented the many problems that could take place if some of the healthcare reform proposals before Congress were passed. “Mostly the panelists talked about the adverse effects that could ensure with government playing a larger role than at present,” said Lloyd.
Nelda Tittle, Legislative vice chair for LAAHU, hopes that everyone involved can work together. “My motivation for putting together this particular panel was to keep working toward building coalitions with other stake holders in the healthcare delivery system. It seems to me that we all need to sit at the same table and work in the same direction.” She felt there was much more agreement than disagreement and pointed to the statement from Herb Schulz who suggested that disagreements were not being exposed. She also said that everyone on the panel agreed that healthcare costs are the biggest problem, and things like the aging population and the costs associated with newer technologies are out of everyone’s control.

Clearly, members of our panel, like the panel they commented on, have strong opinions and different points of view. What can be said is that a dialogue has begun. Healthcare reform has no easier answers or simple fixes. And because of its enormous share of the GNP, it never will. Each side will have to give a little. What we can celebrate is that, thanks to the work being done by the national, state, and local health underwriters association, we’ve been invited to express our views and share our knowledge with those around us. We have a voice and we’re being taken very seriously. Indeed, we’ve come a long way, baby.
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Steven Crane is creative director for Warner Pacific and serves as communications chair for the Los Angeles Association of Health Underwriters.