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Those that advocate for change in healthcare most often make their case based on the unsustainable cost or poor quality care that is sadly the norm. A 2018 article in Bloomberg highlights this fact by reporting on global healthcare efficiency, a composite marker of cost and life expectancy. Not remarkably, the United States ranks 54th globally, down four spots from 2017 and sandwiched neatly between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria. Unarguably, the US is a leader in medical education, technology, and research. Sadly, our leadership in these areas only makes our failure to provide cost-effective, quality care that much more shameful. For the well-off, the prospect of excellent accessible care is bright, but, as the Bloomberg article points out, as a nation our rank is rank. Anecdotally, I can report that as a physician I am called upon with some regularity to intervene on the behalf of family and friends to get a timely appointment or explain a test or study that their doctor was too busy to explain, and so even for the relatively well-off, care can be difficult and deficient.

The Hospital Laboratory Workforce Initiative’s Advisory Group meets periodically throughout the year. Listed below are the upcoming dates and times, as well as meeting information packets from previous meetings.

2019

March 6, 2019 (Sacramento)

September 24, 2019 (via conference call)

Lawmakers have introduced 420 new bills for 2019; the deadline to introduce new bills is February 22. Many bills have been introduced as spot bills, which contain language declaring the Legislature’s intent but provide few details. These bills will eventually be amended prior to their hearings in policy committees to include the actual language.

At this time, CHA is reviewing close to 100 legislative bills for position.

When Americans are asked what issue is most important to them, healthcare continues to top the charts. The 116th Congress is dominated by lawmakers who pledged last fall to make healthcare more affordable.

Late last month, Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) introduced the State Health Care Premium Reduction Act to lower health insurance premiums in the individual market. Craig has said she supports stabilizing the individual marketplace with bipartisan ideas such as a federal reinsurance program. In fact, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has set a hearing on a federal reinsurance program this week.