Efforts To Change U.S. Health Care System Must Combine Public, Private Sectors, AHIP CEO Says

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 01 Nov 2007 - 10:00 PDT

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Restructuring the U.S. health care system will require cooperation between the public and private sectors, America's Health Insurance Plans CEO Karen Ignagni said at the Montana Healthcare Forum on Monday, the Billings Gazette reports. Ignagni said, "I think we're going to have a mixed system, and we have to figure out how to get the best of both" sectors to provide coverage for all U.S. residents. She said that 14 cents of every health insurance dollar spent in the U.S. is used for claims processing and administration, consumer services and profits, and the remaining 86 cents is used to pay physicians, hospitals, pharmacies and other medical services. She said, "Clearly our country has got to get over simply talking about premiums and health plans. We have to look at the underlying costs and figure out what's needed going forward," adding, "The fact of the matter is, our premiums track costs. The cost of paying claims has declined in the past 10 years." She noted that voter interest will help determine the outcome of health care reform in the U.S. (Harrington, Billings Gazette, 10/30).

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