Ann Woloson Provides Input on Federal Reform to Congresswoman Chellie Pingree

Hallowell, Maine, July 3, 2009—Ann Woloson, Executive Director of Prescription Policy Choices (PPC), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization which provides objective research, information, and on-the-ground expertise on prescription drug policy , participated in a listening session with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) on Thursday, July 2. Woloson was invited to present ideas and perspectives on national health care reform currently under consideration by Congress at a session facilitated by the Maine Hospital Association and the Maine Medical Association.

Woloson played a role in advising Pingree on federal health care reform by offering broad, but extremely important, principles as keys to successful at the national level.

“PPC supports efforts at the federal level to reform and expand health insurance coverage and improve the quality of health care provided in the US,” said Woloson. “People with limited means and small businesses are a particular priority to PPC; although we recognize that rising health care costs are affecting everyone regardless of economic circumstances.”

Woloson offered the following principles for consideration in shaping and refining reform policy: 

· Affordability is key to expanding and accessing coverage, as is the ability to understand coverage choices and how to apply for and maintain coverage. Options should be clear and easy to understand, as should the application process for expanded coverage.   

· A public option should be included. The importance of the competition such an option would create in today’s market can’t be overemphasized. It will provide purchasers of coverage with another choice; something many of us have looked for when exploring current insurance options. 

· While cost-containment efforts need to be included as part of reform measures, it is important that health care providers participating in a public option be adequately compensated for the care they provide. We need to be realistic regarding our approach to reform, and adequately paying providers who participate will help to ensure the public option’s success.  

· Reform must reward evidenced-based best practices. It’s clear the US is paying too much for care that is not always necessary or, in some cases, ineffective or unsafe. Our limited health care dollars should pay for quality care, not quantity of care. 

· Reform measures need to invest in primary care, prevention, and the concept of a medical home. We all know primary care and preventive care help reduce overall costs in the long run. Reform measures need to rebuild our primary care workforce and include improved access to education, as well as incentives that would encourage medical students to enter the field of primary care.

· The government should be given the authority to negotiate prescription drug prices under expanded coverage options. The private sector currently reaps billions of dollars in revenues negotiating prices and steering plans (and beneficiaries) toward certain drugs under Medicare Part D. Meanwhile, government obtains lower prices for veterans and Medicaid patients and could achieve huge savings as the nation's largest drug purchaser for our newly covered individuals and our elderly. Savings could be funneled back into Medicare to slow its growth and help expand coverage to the uninsured.

PPC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c) (3) educational and public policy organization which provides objective research, information, and on-the-ground expertise on prescription drug policy. PPC’s research and policy focus is evaluating alternative policies and programs that effectively reduce prescription drug prices and increase access to medications.