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| | | | Guiding Principles Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield will apply the following priorities in its consideration of specific legislative, regulatory, and public policy proposals in 2013.
- Support priorities to achieve the Healthiest State Initiative and advance a sustainable health care system:
- Promote environmental change that enables Iowans and South Dakotans to live healthier lives
- Collaborate with the provider community to improve quality and reduce the cost of health care
- Ensure that new and existing medical treatments and equipment are necessary, safe and effective for our members
- Reduce overuse, underuse and misuse of health care by advancing the practice of evidence-based medicine
- Support efforts to eliminate payment and funding inequities in public programs that contribute significantly to the shifting of costs to the private sector
- Continue to help our members understand their health and health insurance
- Assure workable implementation of state exchanges and related federal health reform requirements:
- Minimize additional costs for customers
- Reduce market disruption and upheaval
- Maintain sufficient business flexibility to adapt to new environment
- Improve payment options for quality outcomes and collaborative arrangements, such as ACO arrangements and alternative reimbursement strategies that move away from fee for service
- Support competitive level playing field in the insurance marketplace
- Support key aspects of the BCBSA public policy agenda designed to ensure the viability of state-based insurance markets and affordability of expanded benefit coverages:
- Target modifications in statutory provisions, such as repeal of insurer excise tax
- Promote informed federal agency regulations
- Advocate flexibility for state policymakers and insurers
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Frank J. Stork
Vice President & Senior Counsel, Regulatory & Government Affairs, Board Secretary
515-376-5388
storkfj@wellmark.com
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