May 17, 2007

Last month, the Manchin administration released a statewide health report entitled, "Towards a Healthy West Virginia: A Strategic Vision and Action Plan." The health of our residents and the accessability and affordability of health care are very serious issues for this state, and the report notes that we are in the midst of an aggressive effort to improve conditions.

The report highlights four major areas: value in government; value in health care; healthy West Virginians; and access to care.

* When it comes to "value in government," the Manchin administration is seeking to provide more streamlined and effective management of the state’s health care resources. Health-related agencies are being encouraged to integrate, coordinate and prioritize health care programs and infrastructure. For example:

In noting the importance of behavioral health and its relationship with physical health, the report looks at the state’s two-year effort to improve the quality, coordination and integration among behavioral health services statewide.

There is a System of Care initiative, which seeks to better coordinate services for children with emotional and behavioral needs, including working to place as many children in state as possible. So far, a regional pilot program was able to achieve a 55 percent reduction in out-of-state placements (340 children). The initiative has shown that this move also reduces health care costs.

During the past year, the state has been redesigning its Medicaid program to encourage greater accountability – on the part of government, providers and members.

The governor would like to see the overall state health plan, which is developed and maintained by the West Virginia Health Care Authority to guide important health care resource allocation decisions in the state, updated. The state’s health care agencies will also be asked to identify areas where health care goals could be better served by coordinating and streamlining existing programs, as well as their funding sources. Data collection and analysis also should be improved and shared, according to the report.

* Obviously we should work to provide care of the highest value at the best price for individuals, families and the public and private sectors. The report lists the following health care quality and cost containment initiatives:

We’re getting closer to a uniform, statewide e-health system, which is to include a statewide health information technology network, a Veteran’s Administration VistA electronic health record system, and e-prescribing, which is made possible by legislation passed this year.

Gov. Manchin mentioned in his State of the State Address this year the goal of providing more reliable, understandable medical billing information. The Health Care Authority is developing a website to help consumers make better decisions by offering timely and trustworthy information on how much West Virginia hospitals charge, on average, for the most common medical procedures and diagnostic testing. The West Virginia Hospital Association is helping to develop a simplified, patient-friendly bill system for hospitals.

West Virginia health care agencies are forming a collaborative to seek input from other key purchasers of health care in the state. This effort to create public-private partnerships between major health care purchasers to establish standards for quality and patient safety is ongoing in many other states.

* The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that more than 90 million Americans live with chronic illness, and treatment for these conditions accounts for 75 percent of yearly health expenditures. As we have read and heard many times, West Virginia is an unfortunate leader in this area.

The state is working hard to improve West Virginians’ health by targeting eating habits, physical activity and the use of tobacco and controlled substances. There are numerous programs working to address obesity, particularly childhood obesity; tobacco use; and the management of chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Programs are also in place to target behavioral health and senior wellness.

The state is looking at intensifying well-child screenings, especially through Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Public Employee Insurance Agency. The administration is even considering a kindergarten pre-enrollment health check requirement. More maternal and newborn health screenings are also on the horizon.

* When it comes to access to care, the state continues to consider how to improve access to its public health insurance programs, including the West Virginia Small Business Plan, a public-private partnership, and AccessWV, a program for those who have been unable to find, or have been denied, health insurance because of a medical condition. Free or low-cost services are also offered through West Virginia’s free clinics, primary care clinics and school-based health centers.

I welcome and appreciate your input on these or any other legislative issues. Write to House Majority Leader Joe DeLong, Building 1, Room 228-M, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, 25305, or joe@joedelong.com, or call 304-340-3220