Georgia’s Health Care Reform Task Force has announced four core recommendations to improve the health and health care of all Georgians. The recommendations are aimed at slowing the rising cost of health care, improving access to medical services, strengthening the doctor-patient relationship, and providing consumers with better health coverage choices.
The report was released Monday, the first day of the 2018 session of the Georgia General Assembly, and almost a year after Lt. Governor Casey Cagle called on the Task Force to bring forward solutions to lower the costs of care, premiums, and deductibles so that Georgia families have access to the quality care they need, at a price they can afford.
The 19-page report is the result of a series of meetings held across the state, which included testimony from experts in the healthcare field, and open discussions on possible solutions for what the Task Force felt were the most pressing issues facing Georgians .
In the report, members of the Task Force recommend the State initiate a stakeholder-driven process to increase the performance and sustainability of Georgia’s health care system. In order to achieve this, the Task Force proposes creating two organizations “designed to promote collaboration, foster a more efficient decision-making process, and better prioritize Georgia’s investments: the Health Coordination and Innovation Council and the Health System Innovation Center.”
In addition to bringing together all levels of Georgia’s health system, this strategy will cut duplication, streamline government, and result in net savings for our state’s taxpayers, according to the recommendations released.
The introduction in the report stated that “One-size-fits-all policies are not the solution to the many health challenges facing Georgians. Reforms must be tailored to the specific needs and capabilities of each community.”
“Georgia families deserve access to affordable, high quality care,” said Lt. Governor Casey Cagle. “Our state is ready to advance a bold conservative vision for health care reform that addresses the needs of all Georgians – especially our rural communities confronting hospital closures, workforce challenges, and limited access to primary and preventative care. By bringing together every level of our state’s health system, under a clear vision for the future, we will lead the way to a better quality and higher functioning health care system.”
In the introduction, the Task Force also acknowledged that, “The Task Force is the first step in this effort to develop reform proposals that can reduce health care costs and strengthen the doctor-patient relationship. These initiatives will focus on market-oriented policies that promote patient choice, better health insurance options, improved access to necessary services, and higher quality care.”
