Lowering the cost of health care in Maine in large part lies squarely on our state lawmakers’ shoulders. It will take sweeping legislative changes similar to the overhaul of the Worker’s Compensation back in the 80’s to bring health care costs and choices in line with other states. The tone in Augusta is “we’ve just nationalized health care at the federal level, we’re all set.” I’ve got news for you. The health care reform bill doesn’t get fully implemented until 2014. No one claimed the recession was over when we signed the $787 billion dollar “stimulus bill” over 15 months ago, and we can’t claim our health care problems are over now. More than ever, we need to get our health care house in order.  Here’s how we will do it.

1. Increase Competition

We have worked with insurance companies for over 30 years. Moody’s has paid 100% of our co-workers individual health insurance since 1985. Being in the collision repair business, we have a comprehensive understanding of how auto insurance companies operate. There are over 100 insurance companies writing auto insurance in the State of Maine. Guess what? For the most part, auto insurance is affordable here. We have three to four health insurance companies in our state.  It’s no secret that Maine doesn’t have enough competition to allow adequate consumer choices in coverage or cost.  New Hampshire has 14 companies writing health insurance and their coverage is significantly less expensive than Maine’s. Let’s allow citizens to purchase health care across state lines.

2. Pay Our Bills

Let’s pay our bills! Maine was recently in the news allegedly owing some 300 million dollars to hospitals, doctors and other medical personnel. The state claimed that amount was erroneous; the correct amount was approximately 40 million dollars. Well, let’s put it in our terms. If you spent $400 on your credit card, but received a bill for $3000, what would you do? We know what we’d do. We get on the phone and straighten it out. One immediate way we can lower health care costs is by paying our health care providers what we owe them. If the state officials say we owe 40 million, at least pay that amount. Many health care providers pay interest on credit lines to help carry those receivables. You can’t blame them for passing on interest and penalties. Let’s pay our bills and reduce costs!

3. Reduce Costs

There is a severe lack of transparency in our current system. Patients don’t know the costs; they don’t pay the bills. Our system doesn’t benefit either patients or our state. Shouldn’t we be price conscious and require transparency with cost and quality? We need legislative change that allows patients to shop prices using best faith estimates via pricing disclosure requirements.  Like all other segments of the market, providers should compete for your business.  Health care should be no different than buying goods and services like clothes, groceries, or car repairs. If you can obtain a necessary MRI at a qualified local provider and save $1500, why wouldn’t you? With patients and businesses opting for higher deductibles to prevent premium increases, it’s time to raise consumer awareness and involvement.

Lastly, we need to create financial incentives that promote healthy behaviors and positive healthcare provider outcomes.  Health determinants are mostly behavioral (40%) and genetic (30%) with socio-economic (15%) coming in ahead of health care (10%) and environment factors (5%). As our campaign slogan says, “The time has come for us to take responsibility for our future.”