Task Force in Okla. Announces Guiding Principles for Health Care Reform

An Oklahoma House task force created to develop reforms to the state’s health insurance system has announced a set of guiding principles.

“These guiding principles will serve as a blueprint for possible reforms as we move forward with our work over the next several months,” said state Rep. Kris Steele, R-Shawnee and co-chairman of the House Health Care Reform Task Force. “We have an advisory committee made up of 31 leaders in the industry so we can cast a wide net and search for solutions to reduce Oklahoma’s high uninsured rate.”

The bipartisan task force met for the first time in July. The task force will next meet Tuesday when it will hear from health care policy analysts with the National Conference of State Legislatures and the American Legislative Exchange Council.

“Oklahoma is continuously at the top of the list of states when it comes to the number of uninsured residents, and it is critical this task force look for market-based, consumer-driven answers to get more people insured,” said Doug Cox, R-Grove, co-chair of the task force and the lone medical doctor in the Legislature.

“For years I have seen an increase in the number of patients in the emergency room in need of standard care, but do not have the insurance that allows them a primary care physician,” Cox said. “These guiding principles will help us build reforms that will get Oklahomans the preventative care they need to help them live healthier, more productive lives.”

The guiding principles are consumer empowerment; consumer choice; encouraging personal responsibility; incentives to use health care resources with an emphasis on primary care; fair compensation for providers; efficient, effective administration; effective use of technology; improved health outcomes; effective communication; efficient use of resources; and increase access to quality, affordable private health insurance.

Other task force members are Rep. Ron Peterson, R-Broken Arrow; Rep. Pam Peterson, R-Tulsa; Rep. Lisa Billy, R-Purcell; Rep. Wes Hilliard, D-Sulphur; and Rep. Ben Sherrer, D-Pryor.

Originally published by Journal Record Staff.

(c) 2008 Journal Record – Oklahoma City. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.