Minnesota Medical Association Offers Health Care System Reform Plan
Posted on: Monday, 24 January 2005, 21:00 CST
Jan. 25--The Minnesota Medical Association has a plan for reforming the state's health care system.
Adopting the "Physicians' Plan for a Healthy Minnesota" would provide all Minnesotans with affordable health insurance for essential services and improve the quality of care while holding down health care costs," the association said.
The MMA, which represents more than 9,000 doctors statewide, released its plan Monday.
"Minnesota is already spending enough money to provide affordable health care to all its citizens, but we could be getting more value for our money," Dr. Judith Shank said in a news release.
Shank is chairwoman of the task force that developed the report.
"Physicians are offering a plan for reform that will result in better health care for more Minnesotans," she said.
Minnesota Department of Health spokesman John Stieger said no one at the department had had the chance to examine the MMA's plan by late Monday afternoon.
Many of the plan's ideas would require state action to adopt.
The association's immediate goals include lobbying for state legislation this year that would prohibit smoking in bars and restaurants statewide, increase the tobacco tax $1 per pack and use the resulting funds to help preserve the state's health care programs.
Longer term goals include:
--Requiring everyone to have insurance for essential health care services. A doctor-led community process would define essential benefits.
--Requiring all health plans to offer the same essential benefits and charge everyone the same premium.
--Improving public health systems.
--Promoting immunizations and healthy lifestyles.
--Increasing the emphasis on preventive care and early diagnosis.
--Simplifying the management of health care systems.
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Source: Duluth News-Tribune (Duluth, Minn.)
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