Obama Administration Finds Health-Care Model in Green Bay

[cal04]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/10/AR2009061003669.html?wprss=rss_politics/administration

When President Obama touches down today in Green Bay, Wis., he will be landing in one of the highest-value health communities in the nation, a city that by numerous measures has managed to control medical spending while steadily improving health outcomes.

"If we could make the rest of the nation practice medicine the way that Green Bay does, we would have higher quality and significantly lower costs," said Peter Orszag, the Obama administration budget chief who has emerged as a key player on health-care reform.

In his drive to rein in skyrocketing health-care costs, Obama is increasingly focused on wasteful medical care that does not extend life and may actually be harmful. Today's town-hall-style meeting, his first as president to promote health reform, is intended to spotlight one city's strategy for squeezing out waste without hurting quality.

The event, coupled with a speech to the American Medical Association on Monday, represents a fresh push by the White House to sell the public on legislation that could dramatically alter how care is given and paid for in this country.

[elocs]

1. This weekend I will be applying for BadgerCare here in Wisconsin.

http://bulletin.aarp.org/states/wi/articles/badgercare_expanding.html?CMP=KNC-360I-GOOGLE-BULL&HBX_OU=50&HBX_PK=badgercare_plus

Wisconsin will expand its BadgerCare Plus coverage to cover low-income adults with no dependent children.

With the expansion, 98 percent of Wisconsin residents will have access to health insurance—coverage that is second only to that of Massachusetts.

The state’s 2008 profile of those eligible shows 57 percent were men, 38 percent had one or more chronic health condition, 40 percent worked full time, 17 percent worked part time and 38 percent were unemployed.

snip

To qualify, applicants cannot earn more than $21,660 annually for one person, $29,140 for a married couple. They cannot have had access to private or employer-sponsored health insurance in the last year. The plan covers doctor visits, hospital services and some prescriptions—mainly generics—but not vision or dental care. There is a $5 copay for medicines.

Enrollment opens June 15 online and by phone at 1-800-291-2002, with a nonrefundable $60 application fee. The website offers details on what is covered and copayments.

“Wisconsinites by the thousands are feeling the pain of a broken health care system and an economy that is worsening every day,” said Jim Flaherty, AARP associate state director for communications. “Many younger AARP members—ages 50 to 64—struggle to find decent health care at a price they can afford on limited incomes. BadgerCare Plus will allow these people to treat illnesses earlier, before they become more serious and more costly to treat.”

[vaberella]

2. This is great news. Elocs do you have some detailed writing on the makings of the Green Bay system.

n/t

[blueclown]

3. He should take a trip a bit further up North to find the better health-care model n/t

[Thrill]

4. Wonder if any progressive from Madison scored any tickets?

If so Obama is going to get a few single payer and DADT questions. Should be fun!