Editor's note: The Symposium Today blog posting provides a daily summary of news, quotes, insights and media coverage from the 2011 Colorado Health Symposium, July 27-29 at the Keystone Resort and Conference Center.
Quote of the day:
"Every year, it's like we dump out a jigsaw puzzle and we put it together again and try to figure out what works. It's frustrating and seems to get more so." – Sharon Linhart, founder and managing partner of Linhart PR, on the challenges of insuring employees
Businesses nervous about reform
Panelists expressed concerns about health care reform and its effects during this morning's discussion on "the business of health care" on the third and final day of the 2011 Colorado Health Symposium. U.S. Sen. Hank Brown kicked off the morning's proceedings. Now senior counsel for the Denver law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP, Brown predicted many employers will drop health coverage altogether due to increased insurance costs and regulatory burdens associated with the Affordable Care Act.
Brown said the ACA will lead to dramatic increases in health care costs and force more people to enroll in government-sponsored insurance plans. Due to restrictions in federal funding, Brown predicted that Medicare will become "needs-based" and available only for those who can't afford other coverage. "You may like or dislike this phenomenon, but it's coming," Brown said. He also predicted the recent expansion of the Medicaid program will be scaled back considerably, leading to additional cost-shifting in private insurance plans.
Sharon Linhart, founder and managing partner of Linhart PR, a Denver-based public relations firm, said she is among many small business owners who are apprehensive about the ACA. "We're obviously concerned about increased costs and regulations," Linhart said. While some colleagues are optimistic that the ACA will lead to lower premiums, less sick time and reduced productivity, many are confused or uncertain about what reform will mean to them. "If the new regulations [from the ACA] are as onerous as they're predicted to be, we could consider discontinuing [insurance coverage] and just pay the fine. Hope I haven't been a 'Debbie Downer,' but that's a little bit of a reality check."
Kate Sullivan Hare shared her insights dealing with business and health care. Hare led policy efforts for nation's largest business lobby, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and for the nation's largest retailer, Wal-Mart. Now director of public outreach and public affairs for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Hare said the U.S. Chamber lost one-third of its membership when it worked to forge reform policy that included tax credits for businesses that offer insurance, mandates for employers to provide insurance and expansion of public plans. "A lot of partners withdrew from the partnership because it did nothing to address the factors that drive costs," she said. "But frankly, I'm not sure a lot of those factors can be addressed through legislation."
Jena Hausmann, senior vice president and COO of Children's Hospital Colorado, said the ACA clearly will impact "business as usual" at the hospital system. "It will require a paradigm shift, but we'd rather drive change than be the victim." Hausmann said advancements in health information technology, health information exchange, coordinating care, improving quality and safety processes will help Children's Hospital realize cost savings and improve care.
Also at this morning's session, Kirsten Saenz Tobey, co-founder of Revolution Foods, shared her vision for providing healthy, fresh foods for students on a daily basis.
Streaming of Friday's plenary speakers is available through Ustream.
Keynoter takes aim at disparities
Insensitivity to ethnic and social differences compromises the quality of health care that minorities in America receive, said Dr. Ian K. Smith, a health care author and media consultant. Best known for his appearances on cable TV's "Celebrity Fit Club" series, Smith presented the keynote speech at the third and final day of the Symposium. Smith emphasized the importance of "cultural competency" in health care, adding language and cultural barriers could impact the patient's experience and medical outcomes. "You need to have to have a blank mind for everyone who walks in that door," he said. "Physicians have to treat everybody differently."
Henneberry earns Iglehart award
Joan Henneberry received the distinguished John K. Iglehart Award for Leadership in Health Policy during a July 28 reception at the Colorado Health Symposium. Presented by the Colorado Health Foundation, the award recognizes individuals whose wisdom, involvement and leadership helped define and move forward positive reform in health care.
Earlier this year, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper appointed Henneberry as the executive director of the Colorado Health Insurance Exchange. In this new role, Henneberry will oversee the implementation of a new marketplace where individuals and small businesses can purchase health insurance coverage. Previously, Henneberry served as the executive director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, the state agency responsible for public health insurance programs including Medicaid and CHP+. The award is named after John K. Iglehart, founding editor of Health Affairs a health policy journal. In conjunction with the Iglehart Award, the Foundation will make a $10,000 contribution to a health care nonprofit of Henneberry's choice.
Don't miss "Colorado State of Mind"
Friday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m., Rocky Mountain PBS will air the edition of "Colorado State of Mind" taped on Day Two of the Colorado Health Symposium. The show features Symposium speakers Kavita Patel, Barb Yondorf, Joe Greer and Jena Hausmann.
Symposium news highlights
KUNC, a public radio station serving Northern Colorado, featured Kelly Brownell's comments about taxing sweetened soft drinks on its website yesterday. Brownell, a psychology professor from Yale University, said at yesterday's Symposium, such taxes could reduce consumption of soft drinks and obesity, while raising revenue for state and local governments. Also, Colorado Public News posted a story about the Symposium on its website.
The discussion continues...
The 2011 Colorado Health Symposium may be over, but the event continues to play out online. Morning sessions from the Symposium are available via Ustream. You can also catch up with the Symposium via Twitter. Follow Symposium happenings by "liking" our official Facebook page. These online resources extend the Symposium beyond the walls of the conference center. Also, read the Symposium blog for insights before, during and after the Symposium.
Speaker slides available online
Looking for great statistics or tidbits from this year's Colorado Health Symposium? Many speakers' PowerPoint presentations are posted on our website.
Next up: The 2012 Colorado Health Symposium: July 25-27, 2012
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