By Leif Wellington Haase
The California Assembly Health Committee held a hearing today on legislation proposed, which regulate the State health insurance is just a click away. rates, before passing the Bill by Committee 12 would allow. AB52, fire, D - Los Angeles, written by Michael had discriminatory regulators reject proposed increases as excessive or unfair way. Regulatory authorities in 28 States have this authority "Consent". It make it in the Federal law, although some consider it part of the unfinished business of federal health care reform.
But rate regulation effective?
A point of some anecdotal evidence, that it. According to a problem of families United States, Indiana controller to negotiate this authority used short increases lower premium have about half of the time. And in the State of Washington, insurance premiums rose sharply after rate regulation was eliminated in the year 2000.
There is no systematic evidence, however, that increases in States with the "Consent" have been lower or rate regulation is an effective tool for Maria reining in the growth of health care expenditure.
California, for example already has insurance rates for individual and family, which are directly to the national average, despite the high cost of living of the State. In fact, seven of the 10 States with the smallest increase in medical expenses, have powers according to recent data, regulators with the "Consent" does not.
But even if the evidence for "Consent" is somewhat limited, shouldn't we use all the tools available to reduce increases in health insurance?
Only if it does not distract us from fighting the main driver of healthcare costs: the rising costs of medical care as expressed in higher hospital fees, payments to doctors, and the prices of drugs and medical devices.
In contrast to what many believe increasing insurance premiums reflect above all the increasing year growth of medical applications for different insured groups. We are valid, but according to a study by McKinsey & co., who spend sum all expenditure relating to private insurance companies accounts for only 7 cents of every dollar concern over high executive salaries and administrative costs for insurance companies in the health sector.
As we intensify our focus on the increase of the insurer, are efforts to curb the growth of health expenditure in danger. Even the modest efforts, cost control in the federal health care reform are included under the onslaught. One of the most recent examples subordinated, is bipartisan federal legislation that would eliminate an independent Board who spends how much Medicare would check on hospitals.
Can California some much promising legislative initiatives-such as expanding access to tele health-bring down expenditure in the long run. But could they increase costs in the short term and continue until the cost of the premiums, the Californians in coming years will be. And the drastic cuts that are made to the State Medi-Cal program are unlikely, that to save money for Californians. We are these costs reflected in private higher insurance premiums as a provider costs shift to cover their losses on the public agenda simply see.
The State has a broad health care affordability agenda, to reduce healthcare costs and the value, of the State to improve the for his medical expenses. Its objectives would include:
-Payment for entire episodes of patient care as a discrete procedure,
-Expanding the primary health care workers,
--So that nurses and other medical professionals more autonomy, allies and
-Improvement of the physical environment in which we live.
The provisions of federal health care reform this support achieving all these goals. Our focus must be the strengthening and expansion of them.
If we follow rate regulation in the absence of a wider agenda for the reduction of health costs, do not skip the fries like trying with an ever-expanding waistline or hitting the gym will deal a shorter belt simply by retrieving. Purchase the belt could make us feel as if we are ahead, but the image that stares back at us in the mirror does not change.
Leif Wellington Haase is senior fellow at the new America Foundation and the last Managing Director of the California task force on affordable care.
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