Leaders Call for Change at Forum on Integrative Health Care
Posted on Sept. 28, 2009
Minnesota health care leaders and legislators led a call for change at a seminar on integrative health care recently hosted by Northwestern Health Sciences University. Fourteen speakers representing practitioners, purchasers and health plans, spent the afternoon sharing their thoughts on a common theme with an audience of nearly 250 people. They all talked about the need for a new health care system that focuses on the patient, wellness, and outcomes.
The seminar, “Integrative Health: A Local Conversation About Health Care Reform,” was held Sept. 22, 2009, on the Bloomington campus of Northwestern Health Sciences University. It was co-sponsored by Northwestern; the University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality and Healing; the University of Minnesota School of Nursing; and LifeScience Alley.
David Moen, MD, Medical Director for Care Model Innovation at Fairview Health Services, suggested that the current fee-for-service system generates overuse and drives inappropriate utilization of services. He called for a change to a value system based on outcomes. “We really need to change the care system, and then build a payment system around that,” he stated.
What is needed, according to Mary Jo Kreitzer, RN, PhD, Director of the Center for Spirituality and Healing, and Professor, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, is to move a “mindset” to a “mind shift.” She noted that neither of the two health reform plans currently being proposed includes doctors of chiropractic, nurse practitioners, acupuncturists or Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners as part of the solution. “Is integrative health on the radar screen?” she asked.
Minnesota seems to be ahead of the curve in terms of integrative care. Charles Sawyer, DC, Senior Vice President at Northwestern, referred to a report on Minnesota health care reform initiatives, citing health care homes, baskets of care and electronic medical records as likely factors in improving the current health care system. These models are already in place in many systems in Minnesota.
He highlighted the achievements of Northwestern Health Sciences University in creating a community health model, such as the Natural Care Center on HealthEast’s Woodwinds Health Campus; and Northwestern clinicians practicing alongside allopathic doctors at the Pillsbury House Integrated Health Clinic, a joint venture between Northwestern, the University of Minnesota Medical School, the University of Minnesota School of Nursing; and Adler Graduate School.
The audience listened attentively as local legislators offered their perspective.
State Rep. Paul Thissen, (DFL) District 63A, stressed the importance of making sure that Minnesota retains as much flexibility as possible to continue making progress while others catch up. He suggested that much of what is being discussed at the federal level is already in progress in Minnesota.
State Rep. Jim Abeler, (R) District 48B, encouraged attendees to keep in close contact with their legislators, and to provide real-world perspective to the work that is being done at the Capitol.
Sen. John Marty, (DFL) District 54, stressed the importance of access – and coverage – for everyone. He suggested that appropriate health care should be as basic to Minnesotans as police and fire protection.
The President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Patrick Geraghty, said a viable reform plan will require a shift in focus. In his remarks he outlined how he is leading his organization to research what works; change the incentives; empower consumers, providers and employers; promote health and wellness; explore public and private coverage solutions; and strive to provide coverage for everyone.
“The devil is in the details,” said Carolyn Pare, CEO of Buyer’s Health Care Action Group, stating that, “We can all agree that we need to define a sustainable business model that delivers value, holds providers accountable, and engages consumers. The best health plan will be a system that delivers the right care, at the right time, in the right place.”
The final speaker of the day was Frank Cerra, MD, Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and Dean of the Medical School, University of Minnesota. He started out by saying that it was fitting to have an educator speaking in the same context as the other speakers. He noted that, “Educators teach the content, and what to do with the content. Therein lies part of the problem and part of the solution.” He emphasized the importance of bringing the care model and the education model back together to produce providers that can improve the system.
Referring to integrative health care, he said, “The solution is not to add more money to change the delivery system; the solution is to use all providers to the highest level of their degree.”
Audience questions led to an engaging dialogue about integrating complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies into a Minnesota health care plan. Rep. Abeler suggested a host of issues would need to be addressed, such as how to pay for it; how to refer; and why would practitioners refer if they wouldn’t get paid. He noted that most health plans cover 100 percent of medical treatment, but few cover CAM treatments. Sen. Marty stated that a proposed Minnesota plan is based on access to optional services.
There isn’t a better time to have this conversation, says Mark Zeigler, DC, President of Northwestern. “The time is now. The University is committed to having productive discussions on innovative ideas in health care that lead to integrative care.”