Colorado women rate rising cost of health care No. 1 issue
The Colorado Women’s Alliance recently asked nearly 2,000 women across the state to identify the most important issue that the governor and state legislature should be addressing. Overwhelmingly they said the rising cost of health care.
You have to hand it to them – our legislators tried. They introduced 87 health care and insurance bills this session. I would venture to say that not one will have a positive impact on the rising cost of health care. Why? Because they piecemealed the issue. There were bills that required “transparency” databases be created by drug manufacturers, and there were several that independently addressed one “crisis” or another – nursing shortages, suicide prevention, addiction remedies, dementia issues, diabetes medication and on and on.
The women we talked to, from all political perspectives – left, right and center – say that our elected representatives can help bring down costs by ensuring that there are many health care options available that are accessible, affordable, and easy to understand and compare.
In order to do this, we urge lawmakers to meet over the summer and examine every aspect of the health care environment in Colorado – first determining what we can do at the state level, and what needs to be addressed at the national level. Where can we lead through regional inter-state compacts? Each state having its own set of mandates on the key players – drug manufacturers, insurers – only leads to increased, not lower costs.
Bring everyone who plays a role in health care to the table – the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare providers, insurers, distributors (aka the “middle man.) Let’s talk about fostering consumer-based decision making and keep it simple. Americans today are used to going online and shopping for services by comparing quality ratings and price. This would be a good place to start, without burying the information with requirements to release proprietary information that the consumer really doesn’t need or want to know.
Providing good health care for our families today is both frustrating and complicated. Lawmakers can help by asking themselves a few easy questions when considering legislation. a) Is this a state or federal issue? B) Will this action help to lower healthcare costs for my constituents? Yes or no?
We urge a focused, consumerdriven, discussion with all health care players.
Joni Inman is the executive director of the Colorado Women’s Alliance, a nonprofit organization that supports research, education and advocacy in areas of concern to women voters.