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Public Policy Initiatives 2008 - Iowa
The underlying drivers of health care costs continue to
drive increased costs in health insurance: technological advances, greater
prevalence of chronic diseases, an aging population with greater health
care needs, new drug therapies, and increased consumer expectations.
Consumers continue to expect access to the best medical care, the most
advanced medical technology, and the latest prescription medications.
These expectations are costly. Wellmark is committed to supporting sound
public policies that limit health care costs increases for its Iowa customers,
promote wellness, and address effective treatment of chronic diseases.
Initiatives
Address the Drivers of Health Care Costs
- Support proposals to deter the use of tobacco products (e.g. local
control of smoking).
- Support appropriate legislative and regulatory
activities to ensure a strong and effective health planning process
(e.g. Certificate
of Need review) that results in the best balance of cost, quality,
and access for Wellmark customers and their communities. Oppose efforts
to weaken or eliminate Iowa’s current Certificate of Need law.
Support
a federal moratorium on expansion of specialty hospitals.
- Support
efforts to strengthen the ability of health plans to effectively
negotiate on behalf of customers with providers. Oppose
efforts to
weaken current ability of health insurers to bargain on behalf
of customers with health care providers for reasonable and appropriate
reimbursement
of costs for services.
- Support state initiatives that address
the high cost of prescription drugs for consumers, e.g. state-sponsored
purchasing cooperatives,
negotiated price discounts with drug manufacturers, and appropriate
regulation of pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs).
- Oppose initiatives
such as mandated health insurance benefits that reduce customers’
ability to select health insurance benefit
plans
best suited to their needs at affordable prices. Support
efforts to limit or bar new or expanded benefit mandates. Oppose adoption
of new
laws or regulations impacting the business practices of carriers
and which add administrative costs with no offsetting value
for Wellmark
customers.
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