Gingrich Says Healthcare Consumerism Is A Growing Success, USA

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 09 Apr 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Center for Health Transformation founder Newt Gingrich hosted an in-depth review of successful consumer-centered health plans Tuesday for key Hill staff members. The seminar, titled "Better Health, Lower Cost: Examples from the Real World," featured five individuals who are helping lead the way towards an improved healthcare system.

"No vision of a 21st Century Intelligent Healthcare System is complete without the core component of consumerism," said former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. "Patients are always to be at the center of healthcare discussions, and today's panel proved that better consumer education, personalized participation and a metric-based system for tracking success can save lives and save money."

Following Gingrich's opening remarks, Dr. Michael Burgess, Congressman from Texas' 26th District and long-time healthcare reform advocate, presented his thoughts on creating better health outcomes through engaging patients in their own care. Since winning his Congressional seat in 2002, Burgess has focused on improving and modernizing healthcare and currently sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including the Health subcommittee. Burgess serves as Vice Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee.

"Innovation and choice are hallmarks of our healthcare system, but it doesn't mean we can't make a good thing better," said Congressman Burgess. "We are counting on the next generation to continue the groundbreaking advances to further transform healthcare."

The panel discussion on healthcare consumerism and innovation then took place among leaders in the ever-changing field: Wayne Sensor, CEO of Alegent Health; Dr. Ron Loeppke; Chief Strategy Officer of Matria Healthcare; Dr. Reed Tuckson, Executive Vice President and Chief of Medical Affairs of UnitedHealth Group; and Michael Reitz, Chief Marketing Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana all discussed their experiences, successes and setbacks in transforming healthcare.

Wayne Sensor leads Alegent Health, a not-for-profit, faith-based healthcare system throughout Nebraska and Iowa. Utilizing his nearly 25 years of experience in leading major healthcare systems, Sensor is responsible for a wide-array of innovations with Alegent, including free preventive care and health savings accounts to encourage participation. Sensor discussed markers of the success of these initiatives, including costs decreases by 15%, members losing a combined total of 13,000 pounds and over 500 members completing smoking cessation programs.

During the panel, Dr. Ron Loeppke focused on how health enhancement programs can reduce the burden of illness and health risks, ultimately leading to a healthier and more productive population. Loeppke detailed how such investments lead not only to an eventual decrease in health costs but also a decrease in total cost for companies. Loeppke is board certified in Preventive Medicine and has fellowship training in Occupational Medicine, totaling over 20 years of clinical and physician executive experience.

Dr. Reed Tuckson brought to the panel more than 25 years of health industry leadership including positions at the American Medical Association and as former Commissioner of Public Health for the District of Columbia. Tuckson spoke about the positive impact of consumerism in health and their role in improving the quality and efficiency of health services. Studies have revealed that in addition to driving positive health outcomes, UnitedHealth Group's consumer-driven health plans save employers between 10 percent and 12 percent compared to traditional Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans and result in lower premiums and overall out-of-pocket costs for consumers.

"Collectively, we need to drive positive, transformational change in the health system so that people get the right care, at the right time, in the right place," said Tuckson. "Putting consumers at the center of the health care experience and empowering them to exercise greater control of their own health are fundamental to this."

The panel concluded with Michael Reitz. Brining more than 30 years of insurance and healthcare marketing experience, having joined Blue Cross Blue Shield in 1977 as a sales representative, Reitz discussed BCBSLA's role in the rapidly changing consumer-driven health arena. Specifically, Reitz spoke on the success of BlueSaver, a high-deductible/health savings account health plan, introduced in 1997 and now totaling 152,000 members.

"Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is proud to offer consumer-directed health plans, such as BlueSaver, to our members," said Michael Reitz. "Not only are they affordable for many small businesses and consumers, CDHPs also empower consumers by giving them the ability to exercise greater management over their own well-being and healthcare services."

A question and answer session followed the panel discussion, with concluding remarks by Gingrich.

About the Center for Health Transformation

The Center for Health Transformation is a high-impact collaboration of private and public sector leaders committed to creating a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that saves lives and saves money for all Americans. The Center is a for-profit, bi-partisan membership-based organization with over 100 members who participate in member meetings, collaborative workshops, training sessions and workgroups, and projects such as Developing a Roadmap to Cure Alzheimer's, Affordable Coverage for All Americans, Diabetes Transformation and more. The Center, through CHT Press, has recently published "The Art of Transformation" by Newt Gingrich and Nancy Desmond and "Paper Kills: Transforming Health and Healthcare with Information Technology" edited by Project Director David Merritt.

Center for Health Transformation