Major Stakeholders in Health Reform Debate Call for Improvements in Scoring of Congressional Health Care Proposals

/PRNewswire / -- More than 100 members of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) - an organization representing some of the nation's biggest voices in health care - today called on leaders in Congress to encourage updates in the manner in which the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) produces estimates for the cost of legislative proposals in health care. Specifically, they called out limitations in the current methods that, once corrected, would more accurately recognize the value of health care efforts aimed at attacking a significant driver of health care costs: the unchecked growth in common and costly chronic diseases, and related problems such as obesity.

In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the 150 partners and affiliated organizations that signed the letter ask that, "As our nation considers comprehensive health reform proposals, we hope that you will encourage the Congressional Budget Office to address barriers to recognizing the economic value of prevention and chronic disease management."

The group outlined several recommendations for updating the manner in which CBO scores health care proposals including:

-- A revision of "baseline" cost estimates to take in to account the
deteriorating health status of the population and the estimated impact
of this trend on spending in the years ahead
-- The ability to score savings beyond the commonly-accepted 10-year
scoring window in order to sufficiently capture the long-term value of
population health improvement programs
-- An estimate of the broader economic impact a policy change to promote
population health will have on productivity, and ultimately, the
economy


In particular, the group said that it wants to encourage the CBO to find ways to incorporate the benefits of targeted interventions with proven success, as identified in the growing body of research on this issue, and estimate what the impact of these changes could be over the short and long-term.

Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, are responsible for seven out of 10 deaths and affect more than 130 million Americans. The annual economic impact on the U.S. of the seven most common chronic diseases is estimated to be $1.3 trillion, which could balloon to nearly $6 trillion by 2050.

Full text of the letter to Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid follows.

About the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease:

The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is a national and state-based coalition of patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs in the U.S.: chronic disease. For more information about the PFCD and its partner organizations, please visit: www.fightchronicdisease.org.

April 21, 2009

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid:


As members of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD), we thank you for your leadership in Congress and support of President Obama in making health care reform a priority in 2009.

When it comes to the health of the American people, our nation currently faces a crisis. Despite all the resources being spent on health care in the United States, many Americans struggle with their health. Millions suffer from common and costly chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. The rapid growth in these problems has caused individual health costs to soar, undercut U.S. competitiveness and burdened the public health insurance infrastructure.

Spending on patients with one or more chronic diseases now represents more than 75 percent of total spending on health care in the U.S., and even more in public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Until we address the true causes of this crisis, we will never be able to slow spending or make health care more affordable. Nor we will have a workforce - or an economy - that can perform to its fullest potential.

The PFCD, a national and state-based coalition of hundreds of patient, provider, community, business and labor groups, is committed to raising awareness about this issue, while also providing commonsense, bipartisan solutions to help solve the problem. We believe that investing in prevention and disease management will save lives and money now and well into the future. Recognition of the opportunity to achieve the long-term benefits of investment in these areas would provide a positive framework for health policy decisions.

As our nation considers comprehensive health reform proposals, we hope that you will encourage the Congressional Budget Office to address barriers to recognizing the economic value of prevention and chronic disease management. There are three key points that lead to insufficient recognition of the opportunities offered by investments in prevention and disease management:

-- The current government scoring windows cannot sufficiently capture the
long-term value of population health improvement programs aimed at
wellness and prevention.
-- Health care expenditure estimates depend critically on the assumptions
made in the baseline, including projected changes in the current
health status of the population and the estimated impact of health
status trends. Currently, these assumptions are not transparent.
-- CBO scoring does not currently include analysis of the broader
economic impact a policy change will have through changes in
population health and productivity. Estimates of this societal cost
impact would be of great value to legislators.


Such a holistic and comprehensive approach to reform is the only way that we will truly help improve Americans' health, spend our limited health resources more wisely, and boost our economy.

Thank you, in advance, for your support.

Sincerely,

The undersigned Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease national and state partners and other concerned organizations (see full list below)

National partners and other concerned organizations:

AdvaMed (Advanced Medical Technology Association)
Alliance for Aging Research
Alzheimer's Foundation
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
American Academy of Nursing
American College of Physicians
American College of Preventive Medicine
American Dietetic Association
American Osteopathic Association
American Pharmacists Association
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Arthritis Foundation
Cleveland Clinic
Community Health Charities of America
The COSHAR Foundation
DMAA: the Care Continuum Alliance
Easter Seals
Healthcare Leadership Council
Health Dialog
Healthways
Intercultural Cancer Caucus
IHRSA: International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association
Marshfield Clinic
Medical Fitness Association
Men's Health Network
Milken Institute
National Alliance for Caregiving
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
National Business Coalition on Health
National Changing Diabetes(R) Program
National Family Caregivers Association
National Health Foundation
National Latina Health Network
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Patient Advocate Foundation
Novo Nordisk
Park Nicollet Health Services
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
Pharos Innovations Prevent Blindness America
SEIU
Self chec, Inc.
XLHealth
YMCA of the USA


State partners:

Arkansas
Arkansas Respiratory Health Association
Lupus Foundation of America, Arkansas Chapter

Colorado
Alliance of Health Disparities
Colorado Cross Disability Coalition
Colorado Gerontological Society
LiveWell
Lupus Foundation
Mission Medical Clinic
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Rocky Mountain Stroke Association
SEIU

Illinois
AFSCME Council 31
Arthritis Foundation of Greater Chicago
Community Health Charities Illinois
Mental Health Summit
Midwest Business Group on Health
Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce
NAACP Lake County
Springfield YMCA
United Way of Lake County

Iowa
Arthritis Foundation
Community Health Charities of Iowa
Iowa Biotechnology Association

Maryland
Maryland Academy of Family Physicians

Minnesota
American Cancer Society of Minnesota
Arthritis Foundation, North Central Chapter
Minneapolis Urban League
Sabathani Community Center
United Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota

New Hampshire
Advanced Laser Therapy
AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region
Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions
New Hampshire Association for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

New Jersey
Action Cystic Fibrosis
Carpenters Fund of New Jersey
HealthCare Institute of New Jersey
Juvenile Diabetes Awareness Council of New Jersey
Lung Cancer Circle of Hope
Mental Health Association in New Jersey
New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies
New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons
New Jersey Hospital Association
Partners in Care
Steamfitters Local 475

North Carolina
Alliance of Disability Advocates
Arc of North Carolina
Autism Society of North Carolina
Children and Family Services Association of North Carolina
Easter Seals UCP North Carolina
National Alliance on Mental Illness-NC
National Association of Social Workers-NC
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, NC Chapters
North Carolina Mental Health Association
North Carolina Psychological Association

Ohio
The Academy of Medicine of Cleveland & Northeastern Ohio
Area Health Education Centers - Ohio
Statewide Program
Arthritis Foundation of Central Ohio
Chris Holland, Oregon City Schools, Ohio
CIGNA
Cleveland Clinic
Columbus Public Health
County Commissioners Association of Ohio
David C. Epstein M.D. MBA
Fairhill Partners
The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland
National Alliance on Mental Illness Ohio
Ohio Alliance of YMCAs
Ohio Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance
Ohio Association of Free Clinics
Ohio Association of School Nurses
Ohio Asthma Coalition
Ohio Dietetic Association
Ohio Nurses Association
Ohio Osteopathic Association
Ohio Public Health Association
Stark Prescription Assistance Network
Ohio State University Medical Center
Prevent Blindness Ohio
United Cerebral Palsy of Central Ohio
University of Toledo

South Carolina
Black Nurses Association of South Carolina
Chi Eta Phi, Delta Eta Chapter
South Carolina Diabetes Today Advisory Council
South Carolina Public Health Institute
United Way Association of South Carolina
YMCA of Greenville

Wisconsin
AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
Wisconsin Association of Health Underwriters
Wisconsin Dietetic Association
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce


cc: Douglas Elmendorf, Director, Congressional Budget Office; Keith Fontenot, Associate Director for Health Programs, Office of Management and Budget; Bob Kocher, Special Assistant to the President for Health Care, National Economic Council; Nancy-Ann DeParle, Director, White House Office of Health Reform; Senate Health, Education, Labor, Pensions Committee; Senate Finance Committee; House Ways & Means Committee; House Energy & Commerce Committee; Kate Leone, Senior Health Counsel, Senator Reid's Office; Wendall Primus, Policy Advisor, Speaker Pelosi's Office

The Social Security Institute Launches Web Site, Inaugurates Campaign to Prevent Nationalization of Healthcare

/PRNewswire / -- Today, the Social Security Institute (SSI) launched its new Web Site in preparation for a full-scale effort to stop the raid on Social Security, cease the use of Social Security surpluses to bail out banks and insurance companies and prevent Congress and the Obama Administration from nationalizing healthcare and turning it over to the government to run. The site will offer a range of items of interest not only to seniors but to everyone, young and old, seeking to coalesce and affect public policy through citizen lobbying. The site offers a "Take Action" center, frequently updated Senior Alerts, complete interactive blogs, recent news articles and op-eds of particular interest to seniors, and a Senior Resource Center that helps direct senior citizens to an array of resources and interesting opportunities.

SSI president Dr. Lawrence A. Hunter described the Social Security Institute this way: "The Social Security Institute (SSI) is conceived in the proposition that seniority matters, not as a matter of right but as a matter of fact and experience. SSI believes dignity matters, security matters, prosperity matters and freedom matters to people of all ages but especially to senior citizens. SSI is dedicated to listening to America's seniors and speaking truth to power in Washington regardless of which political party holds power. SSI promotes conservative values and classically liberal ideals in its quest to advance the retirement security of today's seniors and the seniors of tomorrow. SSI seeks to be a Third Force in American Politics -- beyond liberal and conservative, beyond Republican and Democrat -- seniors allied for action."

Hunter also said, "SSI agrees with Thomas Jefferson that a little rebellion from time to time is a good thing. We hope to provide seniors a productive outlet for the rebel in them."

SSI's Mission Statement Reads: "The Social Security Institute (SSI) is a national, 501(c)(4) non-profit, non-partisan seniors' advocacy organization working to promote the retirement security of today's seniors and the seniors of tomorrow. SSI's top policy priorities are to stop the raid on the Social Security Trust Funds, prevent cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits, and protect seniors from health care rationing and other limitations on their access to health care."

Americans United for Life Urges HHS to Retain Conscience Rule

/PRNewswire / -- Americans United for Life (AUL) today filed comments with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) supporting the retention of a December 2008 rule providing a much-needed enforcement mechanism for federal laws protecting healthcare freedom of conscience.

Dr. Charmaine Yoest, AUL President & CEO stated, "Congress has a 36-year history of passing laws to protect healthcare freedom of conscience. This rule simply provides HHS and the Administration with the means to fulfill their sworn constitutional duty to properly enforce these laws."

On March 10, 2009, HHS announced its intention to rescind the rule enacted in the final months of the Bush Administration. The rule is opposed by pro-abortion groups, who included a demand for its repeal in a 55-page memorandum to the Obama Transition Team in December 2008--arguing it limits access to the full range of reproductive healthcare.

AUL Vice President of Legal Affairs Denise Burke remarked, "Comprehensive conscience protections and proper enforcement of existing federal laws will help ensure access to quality medical care for all Americans."

Burke continued, "While the majority of federal conscience laws are intended to protect those who decline to participate in abortions, some also protect those who choose to perform them. It is, therefore, incredibly short-sighted for abortion advocates to actively lobby against the enforcement of these protections."

Obama's Speech Filled with Rhetoric, Wishful Thinking, According to Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation Columnist, Robert Hale

/PRNewswire/ -- The Fitzgerald Griffin Foundation website, http://www.fgfbooks.com/, released a column yesterday critiquing 14 points from President Obama's speech on Tuesday. North Dakota attorney and builder, Robert L. Hale, takes the President to task for "wishful rhetoric" and his "clear misunderstanding of how markets work."

Some of Hale's 14 points include:

--The President said: "In order to save our children from a future of debt, we will also end the tax breaks for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans." Hale comments: "Does it seem a realistic that two percent of Americans are going to pay off a federal debt estimated to be between $12 trillion and $19 trillion?"

--The President said: "We have done more to advance the cause of health care reform in the last thirty days than we have in the last decade." Hale replies: "What has been provided is health care insurance -- not health care reform. Nothing has been done to reform a health care system that is bloated by massive Medicare and Medicaid mismanagement.

--The President said: "...we will put Americans to work making our homes and buildings more efficient so that we can save billions of dollars on our energy bills." Hale replies: "As a builder for more than 30 years, I can state unequivocally this is a fiction. It is simply cannot be done.

--The President said: "I'm proud that we passed a recovery plan free of earmarks." Hale comments: "Yet news reports identified up to 9,000 earmarks in Congress' $410 billion omnibus spending bill."

--The President said: "The ability to get a loan is how you finance the purchase of everything... and [how] businesses make payroll." Hale responds: "Businesses do not make payrolls with loans. Those that do, don't stay in business; they fail."

For more than three decades, Mr. Hale has been involved in drafting proposed laws and counseling elected officials in ways to remove burdensome and unnecessary rules and regulations.

"For those who listened carefully and understand how sustainable jobs and prosperity happen, the President's speech was a terrible disappointment," Mr. Hale said.

Duke News Tip: Obama’s Canada Trip Could Yield Lessons in Banking, Health

When President Barack Obama makes his first trip abroad Thursday to Canada, he has an opportunity to learn valuable lessons in health care, foreign policy and financial regulation -- if he is willing listen to leaders from the United States’ northern neighbor, says a Canadian studies professor at Duke University.

“Canada’s banking system is doing really, really well,” said John Thompson, a professor of history and in Duke’s Center for Canadian Studies. “Canada hasn’t had a single bank failure, and the World Economic Forum ranks their banking system as the healthiest in the world. America’s is number 40.

“Canadians save at much higher rates than people in the U.S., and because they’re not allowed to deduct mortgage payments, they aren’t seeing overheated real estate markets,” said Thompson, author of “Canada and the United States: Ambivalent Allies.”

“Canadians spend nine percent of their GDP on health care -- compared to the U.S.’s 16 percent -- and still get better results overall,” he said. “And because the system is national, you don’t have this problem of businesses losing their competitiveness due to huge health insurance costs.

“In foreign policy, Canada has been pretty wise, too. They’ve fought alongside the U.S. in every major modern war -- except Iraq and Vietnam. That looks like pretty good judgment in hindsight.

“Of course, there’s not really a trend of U.S. presidents taking advice from Canadians,” he added. “There’s a pretty good chance this visit will be no more than a photo op for a rock-star president before his adoring Canadian fans.”

WordpressURL ALL: Stimulus Provision Endangers Seniors, Opens the Door for Euthanasia

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from Judie Brown, president of American Life League, on the eugenics element woven into the healthcare provisions of the stimulus package agreed upon by the House and Senate Feb. 12 as reported by the Associated Press and San Jose Mercury News.

"Our elected representatives have fed on the fears of a nation gripped by economic panic to legislate state-enforced euthanasia.

"President Obama's economic stimulus package puts a price tag on each of our heads.

"The package's healthcare provisions threaten the elderly and open the door for euthanasia and nationalized health care.

"Patterned on a plan outlined by Sen. Tom Daschle in his book 'Critical: What We Can Do About the Health Care Crisis,' the plan will have the greatest impact on seniors and places the country a step closer to mandated euthanasia of the elderly, infirm and those deemed undesirable.

"This is a disgusting direct attack on the worth and human dignity of all people, regardless of age. These provisions endanger the life of every single American.

"May God help us as we embark into this 'brave new world' in which government bureaucrats determine the value of our lives."

Congressional Action Could Harm Physician Hospitals; Economic Impact Could Be Severe Warns PHA

/PRNewswire/ -- Special interests who tried to attack physician-owned hospitals in Congress last year by attaching harmful measures to the Farm Bill and War Supplemental Bill are at it again. Now, a handful of lawmakers are trying to use a children's health care bill to limit patients' access to some of the best hospitals in the country.

"We know that physician-owned hospitals are good for patients and good for the economy," said Molly Sandvig, Executive Director of Physician Hospitals of America (PHA), the national association representing the interests of physician hospitals. "It is completely counterintuitive that at a time when our country is experiencing an economic downturn, high rates of unemployment, and inadequate access to healthcare, Congress would consider killing an industry that provides over 55,000 jobs nationally and that provides patients access to the best quality healthcare available in America."

There are currently 199 physician-owned hospitals nationwide. Together, these facilities employ thousands of doctors, nurses, and support staff. They also provide a local economic engine through property taxes, higher wage jobs, and greater health care choices for local residents.

A recent study of the economic impact of physician-owned hospitals in Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas conducted by the Health Economics Consulting Group found that:

"Physician-owned hospitals add considerable value to state economies, ranging from a net effect of $117.8 million in Pennsylvania to $2.3 billion in Texas. The combined impact across all eight states is $2.9 billion. This implies that physician-owned hospitals, through their employment and capital expenditures, generate a total of $3.9 billion in economic activity in these eight states alone."

The proposed language being added to the children's health care bill (SCHIP) would not allow hospitals to grow and would essentially cause these hospitals to whither on the vine since they could not adjust to marketplace demand. Also, there would be no protection offered for hospitals under development and no physician hospitals built after January 1, 2009 would be allowed to take Medicare or Medicaid patients. Closure of physician-owned hospitals would eliminate $2.4 billion in total payroll, $509 million in federal taxes, $1.9 billion in trade payables, and will put 55,000 full- and part-time employees out of work.

There are also 85 hospitals currently under development nationally. On these hospitals, an estimated $1,830,909,350 has been expended with $574,358,090 still outstanding, ready to be spent. The addition of these 85 hospitals would also equate to an estimated 23,000 more jobs.

"HR 2 is punitive legislation and the physician hospital piece is an insignificant offset to the costs of SCHIP. It is hard to understand how Congress can propose an important increase in medical services to children while simultaneously cutting back on hospitals that provide services to this population, among others," said Sandvig.