Fighting Bureaucracy, Helping Healthcare
March 26th, 2009I thought you might enjoy some of my press releases. This press release announces the formulation of a Health care Policy Authority which would streamline and improve health care in our state.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Rep. Rebecca McClanahan, D-Kirksville, filed legislation today that creates a Health Policy Authority to oversee the states role in health care. The state currently inefficiently administers health care policy through over thirty boards and commissions. The Health Policy Authority is comprised of a balanced panel of health care professions.
“The process we have now wastes state resources,” said McClanahan. “By creating a central board we can not only spend our current dollars more effectively, we can also improve the system.” Currently, Missouri ranks 41st for infant mortality among the states—meaning a baby born in Missouri is more likely to die than a baby born in 40 other states, according to the United Health Foundation. Based on this data and CIA World Factbook, a baby is more likely to die in Missouri than in 60 other countries, including Cuba and Estoina.
“Missouri health care is in crisis, and we are going to have to take a serious look at how to fix this problem.” McClanahan said, “Our current methods have not only failed those who need health care most, but they have failed the taxpayers by maintaining an inefficient system.”
This legislation was modeled after the successful Kansas Health Policy Authority. Kansas has seen positive impacts— such as improved state health outcomes and financial savings. According to the Kansas Health Policy Authority the agency saved a total of $28.3 million over a five year period.
“Other states are doing this and it is working. It would be tragic to ignore the successes of other states while our citizens suffer needlessly.” McClanahan added, “The time for action has come, and I presenting a plan that is good policy and good for taxpayers.”
