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Public Policy Initiatives 2008 - South
Dakota
Many factors threaten the current system: inadequate and shrinking payments
to providers from government programs, increased public health demands,
quality concerns, and shortages of skilled health care workers, especially
in rural areas. Wellmark is committed to protecting and strengthening
the health care delivery system in South Dakota.
Initiatives
Improve Health Care Delivery
- Support full funding of government programs (i.e. Medicare, Medicaid,
and the mental health/developmental disabilities system) to eliminate
cost shifting to the private sector and create stability for the provider
community.
- Support quality improvement initiatives in public programs (i.e.
Medicare and Medicaid) that seek to recognize and reward providers
for adherence to established quality standards. Support reasonable
proposals to address the unpredictability and high cost of medical
malpractice liability coverage.
- Support efforts to encourage the development and use of information
technology standards within the health care delivery system to improve
efficiency, convenience and health care quality. Support reasoned proposals
to enhance transparency of information for consumers by delivering
reliable and actionable cost and quality data.
- Support efforts to secure an adequate level of funding for current
and emerging public health issues (e.g. wellness programs for target
populations to address obesity).
- Support proposals to address shortages of skilled health care services
workers, especially in rural areas, so that appropriate access is available
to necessary health care services.
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