Intro to The Roadmap to Health Project

Among the many serious challenges our nation faces, few have more grave long-term consequences than under-investment in population-based chronic disease prevention programs and better clinical management.  This includes research and evaluation into effectiveness and evidence-based change in the way health care is financed and delivered.

The cost of ill-health, of course, is not revealed just by spending. There are costs associated with lost productivity, lost wages, lost opportunities, lost lives.

The Roadmap to Health Project is seeking to change that.

The Roadmap to Health Project is a bold and exciting effort by West Virginians to improve health and wellbeing and to get better value for their health spending.

I’m proud to support each of the four workgroups as the members roll up their sleeves and tackle this important job.

Administrative Simplfication

• We know that by simplifying administration – things like claims processing, billing, and the forms providers have to submit – we can make the system work better for everyone. More efficiently, more effectively, and at less cost. The workgroup will be looking at the best solutions for West Virginia and making recommendations that will work here.

Health Information Technology

• We also know that health information technology will be an important part of making health care work better. A comprehensive inter-operable health information system for all West Virginia providers, hospitals and insurers means better health care for patients – particularly those with chronic medical conditions – as well as cost savings. Research has shown the value of a medical home for patients with chronic disease, and having a provider who coordinates their care to make sure they get the care they need, when they need it, and that they’ve got the support they need to take better care of themselves outside the doctor’s office.

Health System Redesign

• Right now, our health care system doesn’t adequately support the medical home concept.  That’s why the system redesign workgroup is looking at needed changes in finance and payment, as well as models for provider models and community strategies to promote health care when and where it’s needed.

Wellness and Health Promotion

• An all-too-often overlooked element of health care change is prevention. Most chronic conditions can be prevented, particularly those associated with obesity. Nationwide, if the prevalence of obesity was the same today as in 1987, health care spending in America would be nearly 10% lower per person – about $200 billion less.

An analysis from the RAND Corporation focused on just four chronic diseases—diabetes, asthma, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease—found that lifestyle changes, prevention, and better management of chronic disease could result in 20 million fewer inpatient days, 5 million fewer emergency department visits, 9 million fewer office visits, and 20 million added workdays each year. The savings are not just monetary. Ill health takes an immense toll on West Virginians’ quality of life, too. The Roadmap to Health Project offers the prospect to improve health, wellbeing, quality of life – and save money. That’s a bargain.