MARC News
Final report on health care for the region's uninsured presented Oct. 16
Oct. 18, 2006
Health Management Associates (HMA), a leading health care consulting firm, today delivered the Kansas City Metropolitan Health Access Policy Assessment Final Report to MARC. MARC commissioned the report to examine providing health care to the region’s uninsured in the region and to make recommendations on how to address the issue.
The report indicates that over 190,000 residents of the metropolitan area — about 11 percent of the population — are without health insurance or any other kind of coverage such as Medicaid. The uninsured are found in all counties in the metro area.
While the region has an extensive system of clinics, health departments and Truman Medical Center to provide primary care, this care is often uncoordinated. Specialty care for the uninsured, as well as dental and mental health services, are all critical needs. Many uninsured end up in hospital emergency rooms, overburdening these systems. A recent report by the Missouri Hospital Association, using 2004 data, indicates that metro area hospitals provide over $158 million annually in uncompensated care.
The HMA report recommends the formation of a Health Care Safety Net Coordinating Council with leaders in the health care community. The report also recommends the region undertake specific initiatives under the guidance of the Coordinating Council in three areas.
Such a complex and costly undertaking will require the dedication of many organizations and individuals in the health care community. This includes the recently formed Health Council of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, formed by current Chamber Chair and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City President and CEO, Tom Bowser, and headed by local attorney David Oliver. (A full list of members appears in the HMA final report.)
"Working on this effort has been enormously challenging and satisfying," commented Tom Bowser, Blue Cross/Blue Shield CEO. "It is critical that we address the needs of the uninsured if we are to be the kind of community that provides true quality of life to all its citizens."
Other organizations include the safety net clinics, Truman Medical Center and its CEO John Bluford, private and public hospitals, health departments, and organizations such as the KC Metropolitan Health Care Council, the Center for Practical Bioethics, the Mid-America Coalition on Health Care, and the UAW-Ford Community Health Care Initiative.
This report was made possible through the cooperation and funding of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City and the REACH Healthcare Foundation, and the commitment of many health care organizations and individuals. HMA interviewed over 60 individuals and groups in developing their report, which are listed in the HMA report.
The MARC board will discuss taking on the role of convener and staff support for the initiative at its board meeting on Oct. 31. The first task is to organize the coordinating council recommended in the report.
For more information, contact Dean Katerndahl, Government Innovations Forum Director, at 816/701-8243; or Jody Ladd Craig, Public Affairs Director, jcraig@marc.org or 816/701-8241.
Return
to News Archives
Return to MARC Home Page